SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — An avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon over the weekend caught one skier, partially burying them in the snow, according to a report from the Utah Avalanche Center.
The avalanche was triggered on Sunday, Jan. 12, in the Butler Basin area. The skier was part of a three-person group that reportedly unintentionally triggered the avalanche. UAC said the skier, who has not been identified, was caught, carried, and partially buried with his arm and head exposed.
The slide was reportedly three feet deep, 200 feet wide, and described by UAC officials as a soft slab avalanche, which consists of soft, low-density snow.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported as part of the avalanche.
According to the Utah Avalanche Center, avalanche danger remains “moderate” throughout Utah’s mountain ranges. UAC’s avalanche forecast for the Salt Lake area mountains warned its possible to trigger avalanches that could be up to four feet deep and up to 400 feet wide.
“Cautious route finding and conservative decision-making are essential, especially on steep slopes with buried, persistent weak layers, primarily facing the north half of the compass at mid to upper elevations,” wrote Paige Pagnucco, UAC forecaster. “With significant warming today, expect solar slopes to shed loose wet sluffs with potentially deep debris piles.”
The UAC said a variety of avalanches were reported within the last few days. The center said a buried layer of weak, faceted snow continues to be the main issue. Avalanches on this buried layer are more likely on thin, rocky terrain where avalanches have already happened this season.