Madie Saltsburg, the 20-year-old skier who died after a 600-foot fall at Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington Saturday, was a student at University of Vermont and “a star” of the university’s Army ROTC.

Saltsburg, a junior, was an agroecology and landscape design major in the UVM College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, according to Erica Caloeiro, UVM’s vice provost of student affairs.

As a member of the ROTC, Saltsburg was “known for her athleticism and dedicated mentorship to her fellow cadets,” Caloeiro wrote in a message to the community sent Monday. Saltsburg also served as president of the Green Mountain Battalion and Mountaineering Club during her sophomore year, emphasizing her love of the outdoors.

“Her passing is profoundly felt, and our hearts are with Madie’s friends and family, especially her beloved parents and ROTC community,” Caloeiro wrote.

As of April 2023, Saltsburg was the highest ranking officer at UVM’s Army ROTC program, a Facebook post detailed. When she wasn’t participating in ROTC, Saltsburg was involved in the UVM Reformed University Fellowship, and enjoyed hiking, camping and climbing.

“Madie decided to join ROTC for new life experiences and for the leadership opportunities,” the post said.

Saltsburg and her skiing companions “were faced with hard, icy snow surfaces, open crevasse holes, and unforgiving conditions,” on Saturday, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Conditions were “firm and icy” because of no recent snowfall and overnight freezing temperatures.

Two other skiers suffered traumatic injuries from falling in the steep, icy terrain. Other skiers fell throughout the day without serious injury, officials said.

Saturday’s accidents resulted in search efforts that continued well beyond dusk, hours trickling by as teams worked to rescue injured skiers after dark, the service said. Heavy snow and wind contributed to deteriorating conditions throughout the efforts.

Despite the risks, Tuckerman Ravine is popular as the weather warms and the snow begins to soften under the sun. At times, the area attracts hundreds of skiers and snowboarders, who hike three miles into the ravine, proceeding to kick boots into the headwall to clamber to the top, which can take another hour.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this story.