Friends Remember Fallen Skiers

The Jackson Hole community is grieving after an avalanche killed two well-known local skiers.

The bodies of Steve Romeo and Chris Onufer were found buried Thursday in Waterfalls Canyon in the northern end of the Teton range.

Many described the guys as adventurers and backcountry skiing enthusiasts who left a huge impact in Jackson. Even friends knew the risks and possibilities, but still weren’t prepared for this outcome.

?It’s a horrible loss and we’ve been in shock,? friend Jim Stanford said.

Stanford digested the news on Thursday evening, that two of his friends won’t be coming home after they set out for Ranger Peak in a backcountry skiing adventure on Wednesday morning.

?These guys, they lived to ski,? he said.

Romeo and Onufer, both in their early 40s, were reported missing Wednesday night. Teton County Search and Rescue did an aerial search Thursday morning by helicopter.

?Within minutes they found a huge avalanche debris field,? Grand Teton National Park spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs said.

They also found two beacon signals leading rangers to both men’s bodies. Skaggs said it appears a 300 to 400-foot wide avalanche hit them on their way up.

?(They) probably knew on some level that they were pushing the envelope and someday their number may come up,? Skaggs said.

Stanford describes two good solid guys. Romeo was best known for his infectious energy and popular blog TetonAt.com. He also worked at Skinny Skis in downtown Jackson for 12 years.

?That’s what he lived for and that’s why he was up there every waking moment he could be,? Sanford said.

Onufer, a 19-year employee of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, was described as a quiet leader and avid athlete.

?He was the kind of person that, even in doing a race, would stop to help somebody who maybe had gotten a flat tire,? Sanford said.

As two guys who lived to ski, friends take some comfort knowing they died doing what they loved.

?To have their final resting place be in the northern Tetons in Waterfalls Canyon, on such a beautiful night, beautiful moonlit night and everything, makes it a little easier for some of us to understand,? Sanford said.

Park officials said it’s a good reminder to be aware. Even low avalanche danger doesn’t mean no avalanche.

Skaggs said it will be investigating to learn more about what triggered the avalanche and when it happened.