Outdoors/Adventure

Anchorage student dies while backcountry skiing in Montana

BOZEMAN — A Montana State University student from Anchorage was found dead after he failed to return from a solo backcountry ski trip near Bozeman.

The Gallatin County sheriff's office says the girlfriend of 20-year-old Nathaniel "Alex" Wright reported him missing at about 10:45 p.m. Thursday. Searchers found his body at about 6:30 a.m. Friday.

Sheriff Brian Gootkin said it appeared Wright had an equipment malfunction that led to a series of events that ended with his death. He had been skiing alone.

An autopsy was planned to determine his cause of death.

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