Avalanche traps snowmobiler; avalanche danger still extreme


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PROVIDENCE, Cache County — Dangerous and deadly avalanche conditions still shroud the mountains of northern Utah, with more wet snow moving in.

"These are monster avalanches," said Bruce Tremper, director of the Utah Avalanche Center, referring to several big avalanches that broke loose today.

One of them trapped a snowmobiler who had to be dug out by other snowmobilers this evening in Cache County. That snowmobiler was breathing when he was pulled out of the snow three miles up Providence Canyon.

"It's always scary," said Ed Christensen of Wellsville, who helped dig out the buried snowmobiler.

Chopper 5 was able show us that massive slide that swept the small group of snowmobilers into a stand of trees.

Travis, who did not give us his last name, told us they knew that the conditions were dangerous. But he says they took precautions: they had beacons, wore avalanche vests and tested the snow periodically. They believed the snow had set up, become thick. But the conditions can be deceptive.

"The next thing I know, I was tumbling in the snow," said Travis.

More than 100 feet.


I saw a hand sticking out, started digging quick, and got him freed.

–Ed Christensen


"I was disoriented," he said. "I swam like they tell you to do, and it brought me closer to the surface. I had a boot sticking out, which helped with the recovery."

The other snowmobilers acted quickly.

"I saw a hand sticking out, started digging quick, and got him freed," said Christensen.

He was buried for about five minutes, according to his rescuers. Travis turned down medical treatment.

"My friends had a quick reaction time, which saved my life," he said.

As the snowmobilers awaited Cache County rescuers, they built a fire and tried to dig out at least one buried sled. We saw another badly mangled snowmobile from the air, and a tan avalanche rescue bag deployed.

"I'm just happy to be alive," said Travis.

Above them was evidence of the fracture line about four or five feet deep and dozens of feet wide.

Tremper says human-triggered avalanches are likely right now. Warm weather and rain has washed away most of the snow in our valleys. But avalanche conditions up in the high terrain remain considerable.

"It's very difficult to survive these large, deep slab avalanches," said Tremper.

He said it's a dangerous time to take risks on or below slopes steeper than 30 degrees. An avalanche in Mineral Fork at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon was triggered by experienced skiers just above, on the ridge. It cut four feet deep and 300 feet wide. An avalanche forecaster measured another slide in the Uintas that stretched 700 feet wide.

"Imagine something the size of several football fields shattering like a pane of glass, and then breaking out as tall as a person, and the whole slope just roars to the bottom," Tremper said.

The avalanche forecaster points out these very dangerous conditions are the result of several feet of heavy, wet snow piling up over the last five days on top of very weak layers closer to the ground.

"If you don't know what you're doing, these are just not conditions to mess with right now," Tremper said.

Anybody heading into the backcountry on skis or snowmobiles should have the proper experience and gear and check the Utah Avalanche Center website for the latest conditions. Tremper said avalanche danger will remain high into the weekend.

Contributing: Robbyn Garfield, McKenzie Romero

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