Legendary big mountain skier, ski pioneer and Teton climbing guide Doug Coombs was killed near La Grave, France, along with American Chad VanderHam. Coombs, 48, was a pioneer of extreme skiing in Valdez, Alaska, where he made more than 300 first descents and twice won the World Extreme Skiing Championships. He founded Valdez Heli-Ski Guides and in recent years has run Steep Skiing Camps Worldwide from bases in Jackson, Wyoming, and La Grave. A UIAGM-certified guide, he worked for Exum Mountain Guides in the Tetons and other climbing destinations each summer and fall for nearly two decades. He leaves a wife and young son.
