Haines, AK – A helicopter skiing guide from Colorado died on Tuesday in an avalanche in the backcountry northwest of Haines.

Robert Liberman, 35, of Telluride, Colo., was one of two skiers from a party of six with Alaska Heliskiing buried by the slide and was reportedly their lead guide. Alaska State Troopers received an emergency call alerting them to the avalanche on the Takhin Ridge, near mile post 33 on the Haines Highway, shortly after 11 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Another nearby group of skiers assisted with the location and extrication of the victims.

The other member of the party buried by the slide suffered unspecified injuries and was transported to a hospital in Seattle, Wash., for treatment. His identity is unknown at this time pending notification of next of kin, but his injuries are said to be significant and life threatening.