SANDPOINT, Idaho — The Sandpoint community is rallying to support the family of the man killed in an avalanche on Friday.
An online fundraiser supporting the family of 54-year-old Lance Gidley had raised nearly $30,000 by Monday morning, just three days after he was killed when he was caught in an avalanche while snowmobiling.
According to that fundraiser, Gidley passed his passion for snowmobiling, skiing and mountain biking on to his wife and two kids.
Gidley’s wife Cathy is herself a pillar in the Sandpoint community, frequently referred to as “Coach Cathy” by those who know her in her role as kids ski coach at Schweitzer Alpine Racing School.
The fundraiser is organized by Sandpoint woman Christa Landwehr.
“Let’s come together for the Gidley family as they would come together for us,” the fundraiser description reads. “Know that we her friends and family will be grateful for any contribution.”
A release from the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office shared over the weekend said Gidley and a friend were snowmobiling Friday afternoon when they encountered an avalanche.
Gidley’s friend outpaced the avalanche and immediately went back to search for Gidley, who the sheriff’s office release said was wearing an avalanche beacon.
Searchers found and recovered his Gidley’s body on Saturday.
The sheriff’s office and the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center are looking into what caused the avalanche. The sheriff’s office release noted that avalanche warnings were in effect in the area and that they believe the riders knew about them.
