GARDEN CITY, Utah (ABC4) — A snowmobiler was fully buried after his brother triggered an avalanche that swept him away in Logan Valley on Christmas Eve.
According to the accident report, one brother was “side-hilling” a snowmobile in Steep Hollow approximately 2 miles south of the Utah-Idaho border when he triggered the avalanche. “[He] was able to ride off the north flank of the avalanche,” the report says. The avalanche then swept up his brother who was standing next to his sled below him.
The rider was then carried approximately 150 yards before becoming fully buried. According to the report, he was, “recovered by his brother, who used a transceiver to get close enough to see a couple fingers of a gloved hand sticking out of the snow.”
Avalanche buries snowmobiler in Steep Hollow (Courtesy: Utah Avalanche Center)
Only the buried rider sustained minor injuries, and both were able to ride to safety upon recovery.
The avalanche was triggered on a slope of just 25 degrees. The Utah Avalanche Center says avalanche danger is high on slopes of anything steeper than 30 degrees. However, the report warns, “similar conditions are widespread in the area, and that the danger will be rising across the mountains of Northern Utah and Southeast Idaho as we head into the weekend.”