COOKE CITY, Mont. (NMB) – The two snowmobilers killed in an avalanche near Cooke City on Monday have been identified.
Park County Coroner Al Jenkins says the victims are Jesse Thelen, 43, of Paynesville, Minnesota, and Carl Thelen, 40, from St. Martin, Minnesota
The incident occurred on Scotch Bonnet Mountain, and there were four people on the slope at the time. Two escaped safely, while the other two got caught and buried in the slide and were killed.
The avalanche was estimated to be 5 feet deep and 300 feet wide.
Members of Park County Sheriff Search and Rescue arrived to assist with rescue and recovery efforts.
Consistent snowfall over the last week in the mountains around Cooke City, West Yellowstone and in the Southern Madison and Southern Gallatin Ranges have created dangerous avalanche conditions. Human-triggered avalanches are likely on steep wind-loaded slopes and large avalanches could break deeply on buried weak layers.
