Skier dies in backcountry avalanche

An Anaconda man died Saturday after being caught in a backcountry avalanche.

Ron Russell, 46, was cross-country skiing on the top of Olson Gulch outside Anaconda when he was overtaken by the avalanche Saturday morning.

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Coroner Gerry Thomas said Russell was able to dig himself out and call for help. Search-and-rescue crews and the Anaconda Fire Department responded.

“There was nothing they could do. He died at the scene,” Thomas said.

Russell, who was skiing alone, suffered blunt force injuries, he said.

Russell was a longtime math teacher at Anaconda High School.

A celebration of life is slated for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the high school gymnasium.

According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, he was the sixth person to die in an avalanche in Montana this winter and the 27th in the United States.