Christoph Vonalvensleben, 25, and Jeremy Stark, 27, both of Anchorage, inadvertently triggered the avalanche Friday while riding in a party of six snowmobiles at Turnagain Pass, The Anchorage Daily News reported Saturday.

The avalanche occurred after park rangers warned that up to a foot of new snow had created treacherous conditions in the area, the newspaper said.

"If they had to go, at least they went that way instead of some freak drunk-driving hit on the highway on the way home. They were doing what they loved," said Jimmy Blaze, a friend of the victims.

Park rangers said about 500 to 700 feet of the hill where the two men were riding collapsed in fresh snow, leaving a path of debris 200 feet wide.