David Dzenawagis,34, known locally as “Boston Dave,” died Wednesday afternoon after he was buried in an avalanche while snowboarding in the popular backcountry skiing area “Mumfords” on the backside of Mount Ripinski.

Haines Police received a call at 12:47 p.m. reporting the buried man who was found by fellow backcountry skiers Ted Chaney, 36, and Ted Hart, 33, according to an Alaska State Trooper dispatch.

Haines Volunteer Fire Department chief Al Giddings said the skiers located Dzenawagis using a beacon and probe. They found Dzenawagis within seven to eight minutes, according to troopers.

Hart and Cheney were uninjured and made it off the mountain unassisted.

The incident occurred at about 1,500 feet, although the avalanche was triggered at a higher elevation, officials said. Cheney and Hart performed CPR on Dzenawagis. Haines Volunteer Fire Department responders transported the body off the mountain using a helicopter.

The man’s next of kin was notified. His body was transported to Anchorage for an autopsy by the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

Haines Avalanche Center director Erik Stevens said they rated the avalanche danger as “considerable” on Monday, March 11.

“We don’t have an actual danger rating that was valid for today because it’s midweek, but based on the weak layer that was present I wouldn’t be surprised if the conditions are still in the considerable category today,” Stevens said.

A considerable danger level means that human-triggered avalanches are likely, and it’s relatively common for that danger rating to be issued, Stevens said. “It’s very common for people to go skiing on considerable days,” Stevens said. “We tell people that it’s important to choose terrain that’s appropriate for the danger level on any given day.”

Stevens and other avalanche center volunteers will ascend Mumfords on Thursday, March 14 to conduct an accident report. The American Avalanche Association tasks its regional centers to complete accident reports to educate the public on risks associated with area terrain.

“It’s really important for all of us to look back to an accident that happened to know what the conditions were on that day, which weak layer failed, and any other details that can help prevent this from happening in the future,” Stevens said. “Without these case studies, we don’t know how to stop people from getting in trouble again.”