Two Toronto men die in Alaskan avalanche
Posted May 31, 2010 6:27 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Two climbers, both residents of Toronto, died this past weekend after an avalanche occurred in Alaska’s Denali National Park.
Park officials confirmed 39 year old Andrew Herzenberg and 42 year old Avner Magen were descending a steep gully of Ruth Gorge when they were swept away.
Herzenberg was a doctor at Toronto’s Sick Kids hospital, as well as an assistant professor with the University of Toronto’s department of pathology. He was a member of the board of directors for the Paul Penna Jewish Day School, in the downtown area. His two daughters, Talia and Gabrielle attended class there.
Magen was an avid climber from Israel. He joined the computer science department at the University of Toronto’s Mississauga campus in 2004.
Officials said other climbers witnessed the avalanche. They skied closer to the site, where they saw what appeared to be two people and gear, and immediately called park rangers with a satellite phone.
Their bodies were recovered on Sunday.
