© Provided by New York Daily NewsThree skiers missing after an avalanche in Colorado have been identified.
A group of skiers found dead after they accidentally triggered a massive avalanche earlier this week have been identified as local government officials from Colorado.
Seth Bossung, Andy Jessen and Adam Palmer were among seven skiers traveling between the towns of Silverton and Ophir - a backcountry area known locally as the Nose - on Monday when they triggered a large avalanche at an elevation of approximately 11,500 feet, according to a report from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. They were left buried beneath 20 feet of snow and debris, but have been found by rescue crews because they were wearing beacons identifying their location.
Recovery efforts were called off on Tuesday due to dangerous conditions and the group of men still need to be dug out from the area. Emergency management told the Denver Channel that crews worked from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday in the recovery effort
Once they are freed from the snow, the men will be transferred to the San Juan County Coroner's office for official identification. Their names were released the Town of Eagle and Eagle County late Wednesday night.
Bossung was the energy efficiency project manager for Eagle County while Jessen served as Mayor Pro Tem for the Town of Eagle. Adam Palmer also worked in Eagle County as the sustainable communities director for Eagle County.
"The families of Seth Bossung, Andy Jessen and Adam Palmer are allowing us to share their names so we can all openly acknowledge their deaths and grieve together," Eagle County and the town of Eagle said in a joint statement Wednesday. "The families are surrounded by loved ones, and we are asking everyone to respect their wishes as to when and how they wish to communicate with others."
The other four skiers in the group were able to escape the avalanche on Wednesday. They were caught up and carried in the avalanche and then buried by the ice and snow.
According to CAIC, the group of skiers was able to recover one of their missing members after digging them out. That person suffered only minor injuries.