Alaska snowboarder buried under large avalanche

KETCHIKAN, Alaska – Bad weather is hampering the search Monday for a 39-year-old Alaska snowboarder buried by an avalanche.

Alaska State Troopers say Marvin Scott of Ketchikan was caught in an avalanche reported to be 100 yards (91 metres) wide by 1,500 yards (1,371meters) long while snowboarding Sunday.

Scott and another man were snowboarding on Dude Mountain outside Ketchikan in southeast Alaska when the large slide let loose. Both men wore beacons, and the other man searched for Scott for an hour before hiking to call for help. There was no cell coverage on the mountain, and troopers received the call about four hours after the avalanche.

Scott’s family has been notified of the incident.