Forecasters renew words of caution as new details emerge from deadly New Year's Eve avalanche

SALT LAKE CITY — Forecasters were cautioning about the potential for large and even deadly avalanches in the days to come following two new feet of snow in the mountains Saturday. Their warning came as new details emerged from the official accident report of a deadly avalanche that happened on New Year’s Eve in the Silver Fork Drainage area. “Any avalanche we trigger right now is going to break deep, is going to break wide, and could possibly be unsurvivable,” said Craig Gordon, a forecaster with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center. Avalanche danger across most of northern Utah was characterized as “high” as of Saturday evening. Details from the accident report of the Dec. 31 avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon stated a solo split boarder was in the area of Davenport Hill when he was caught, carried, and ultimately buried 20 feet down by an avalanche that was estimated to be 300 feet wide.Gordon said it was important for everyone headed to the mountains to check the avalanche forecasts and be prepared to potentially rescue themselves. He said transceivers and shovels were essential pieces of gear. “Simply stay off and out from under of the steep, wind-driven slopes, especially at mid and upper elevations,” Gordon said. “It’s going to be that terrain that faces the north half of the compass.” Gordon said backcountry conditions can potentially exist just out-of-bounds near area ski resorts. He said he expected the new snow to be a definite draw for backcountry skiers and snowboarders, but he encouraged those people to show patience. “It’s going to be a long winter,” Gordon said. “We’ve got plenty of powder days left. Let’s pump the brakes. Let’s tone it down. Most importantly, we can have a great day, but we want to come home safely to our families.”

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