GIRDWOOD Alaska — A Mankato, Minnesota, radio executive and two companions were missing after a massive avalanche buried them in 40 to 100 feet of snow. Rescuers assessed the probable area where the men went under but held off digging until the mountain was safe. David Linder, 39, and two companions had helicoptered in for a day of skiing. The avalanche occurred about 3:30 p.m. This was 40 miles southwest of Anchorage. Linder was a co-owner of the seven-station Mankato Radio group. He also had a Florida address. Also missing were Jeremy Leif, 37, of Minneapolis, and Charles Eppar, 39, formerly of Minnesota but more recently from Montana. Witnesses reported that all three men deployed their avalanche safety airbags in order to swim the surface of the avalanche but were buried anyway.
Girdwood. Population 180. Summer view of valley. On the Seward Highway on the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet.