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SALT LAKE CITY – As new snow falls, the avalanche danger in Utah’s backcountry goes up.
The Utah Avalanche Center set the danger rating in the Salt Lake and Provo areas at “considerable” on Friday, which is about a three-out-of-five on the danger scale.
There were a couple of reported avalanches over the past few days, with one near Rocky Point and another on the Park City Ridgeline.
No injuries were reported.
Avalanche forecasters have advised people heading to the backcountry this weekend to avoid north-facing slopes that have old snow underneath the fresh snow that will be falling Friday night.
“If you do make a mistake and you trigger a slide, you’ve got to be prepared for your own self-rescue,” said Craig Gordon with the Utah Avalanche Center.
He said people should be prepared with a shovel and a probe, and they should be wearing and know how to use an avalanche beacon.
Beginning with the storm happening this weekend, the Utah Avalanche Center will start issuing daily avalanche advisories, which can be found at utahavalanchecenter.org.
