Wyoming Skiers Killed: 2 Dead During 2 Separate Avalanches In Grand Teton National Park, First Deaths In Slides This Winter

Two skiers were killed in two separate avalanches in Wyoming on Sunday.  One victim was on a small slide when she fatally hit a tree and the second victim was caught in an avalanche.

Elizabeth "Liza" Gray Benson, 28 and Nick Gillespie, 30, were the first two to be killed on the slides this winter. The Sublette County Sheriff's office said Benson died after hitting a tree, while park officials say Gillespie died from injuries sustained from the avalanche. Monday, crews were working on recovering the bodies of the two victims.

According to the sheriff's office, Benson was pronounced dead by a doctor who had accompanied her and three other people on the slope.

Spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs, stated that Gillespie was with three other people who tried to revive the former Grand Teton National Park trail crew. When they pronounced him dead, his body was carried to the nearest backcountry patrol cabin.

The skiers were unable to call the Rangers, therefore, not knowing their immediate location until Monday when authorities could fly in. The avalanche danger was expected to rise 9,000 and 10,500 feet after a low danger notice Sunday morning.

The slopes had a dry, cold period after snowfall over the weekend, that was snow packed, thus becoming unstable when the new snow over the icy old snow had become weak.