2 dead in northern Japan avalanche identified as New Zealanders

Two people who died in an avalanche the previous day in Hokkaido, northern Japan, have been identified as New Zealand nationals, police said Tuesday.Joshua Sellens, a 33-year-old guide, and Isabella Bolton, 21, residents of Kutchan, were killed in an avalanche on Mt. Yotei, which stands at 1,898 meters and straddles towns including Kutchan and Niseko. The two were among a party of six individuals, some of whom were backcountry skiing.The avalanche on Monday morning caught three people in the group on the northern slope, slightly above the midpoint of the mountain. The hill had not been prep…READ FULL ARTICLE