After days of search and rescue efforts, officials have determined that three men from Eagle County were killed in Monday’s avalanche between Silverton and Ophir.

Eagle County officials identified the victims Wednesday as 52-year-old Seth Bossung, 40-year-old Andy Jessen and 49-year-old Adam Palmer.

“(We) are joining the community in mourning the loss of three friends and leaders,” according to a joint statement from Eagle County and the town of Eagle. “The families (of the victims) are allowing us to share their names so we can all openly acknowledge their deaths and grieve together.”

Palmer served as Eagle County’s sustainable community director, Bossung worked in the county’s sustainable community department and Jessen owned the Bonfire Brewing microbrewery and taproom in the town of Eagle.

Palmer and Jessen also served on the Eagle Town Council.

“Their contributions … have helped shape the community in ways that will be forever lasting,” the announcement said. “Every single one of us in both of our organizations has learned by their examples, and we are grateful to be able to call them colleagues.”

The three men were backcountry skiing with a group on a run known as The Nose near South Lookout Peak when the avalanche hit on Monday.

A fourth skier was also caught in the avalanche but was saved by other members of the group. They suffered only minor injuries, officials said.

The three men were wearing beacons, which allowed rescuers to know their location. But the rugged terrain and avalanche conditions made it difficult to reach them, the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management said.

Rescue efforts began Monday just after 5 p.m. and lasted into the night. Officials resumed the search Tuesday but were forced to stop when a naturally occurring avalanche trapped 12 emergency responders who had to abandon their gear and snowmobiles to escape. 

The three men were finally extracted Wednesday. Officials said they were buried under more than 20 feet of avalanche debris.

Gov. Jared Polis offered his condolences to the families and friends of the avalanche victims Thursday morning.

“Those tragically lost in this avalanche were pillars of their community, public servants and friends to many,” Polis said. “My thoughts are with their families, friends, and the Eagle County community during what must be a heart-wrenching and unimaginable moment.”

Colorado’s 2020-21 ski season has been particularly dangerous. In addition to the three victims, four other skiers have been killed in Colorado avalanches this season, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

In the entire 2019-2020 season, only six people were killed in Colorado, preceded by eight in the 2018-19 season and three in the 2017-18 season.

Officials are urging Coloradans to avoid the Ophir Pass area and do their research before embarking on any ski and snowboarding trips.

“Avalanche danger in the backcountry is always unpredictable regardless of your avalanche knowledge and skills,” the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management said. “It is critical to check the avalanche forecast and avalanche danger prior to venturing into the backcountry.”

An updated avalanche risk map is available on the Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s website.