SALT LAKE CITY — Multiple people were injured after the backcountry was hit with two avalanches near Big Cottonwood Canyon Saturday.
Salt Lake County Search and Rescue said the first avalanche happened around 10 a.m. this morning near Butler Fork, sweeping away two backcountry skiers — a 57‑year‑old male now in critical condition and a 48‑year‑old male in serious condition. Both were hospitalized. The Utah Avalanche Center warned that people need to be extremely cautious in these avalanche‑prone conditions.
“This is a statewide high avalanche danger right now,” said Craig Gordon, Avalanche Forecaster with the Utah Avalanche Center.
Just hours later, shortly before 3 p.m., a second, unrelated avalanche hit Big Cottonwood Canyon, leaving a third man with non-life threatening injuries.
Avalanche safety
Recreating in the backcountry — seen from Chopper 5 — can be deadly. Gordon said current conditions are especially unstable.
“Any avalanche that we trigger is going to break deep. It’s going to break wide.” Gordon said. “It’s going to be dangerous and quite possibly be un-survivable.”
He explained that sunny weather, fresh powder, and dense underlying snow have combined to create a hazardous setup.
“And realize that we’ve got to stay off of and out from under steep slopes.” Gordon said. “So anything steeper than about 30 degrees.”
The danger isn’t lost on residents who frequent the canyon.
“It’s scary. Because our kids are up there skiing all the time. My husband and everyone,” said concerned resident Sherrie Boseman.
Some skiers we spoke with described the conditions as enjoyable, but still recognized the risks.
“I skied, it was pretty great,” Henry Rigby said. “Just got to be careful.”
Others noted that the resort environment feels safer than the backcountry.
“Was it scary to hear there was an avalanche? I mean sure, but that’s mostly back country stuff… skiing at a resort, you’re not really in any danger,” said snowboarder Mitchell Donahue.
Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera called today’s avalanches a sobering reminder of how quickly backcountry terrain can turn dangerous. She urged anyone heading into avalanche terrain to check forecasts, carry proper safety gear, and be fully prepared before venturing out.
Rivera said this is a sobering reminder of just how fast back-country conditions can turn dangerous. She urges folks to check avalanche forecasts…carry proper safety equipment, …and be fully prepared before hitting the mountain.
Find out how you can be prepared for avalanche conditions.