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An avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon partially buries a skier

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Salt Lake City, Utah – The Utah Avalanche Center reported that one skier was partially buried in the snow after being caught in an avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon over the weekend.

On Sunday, January 12, an avalanche occurred in the Butler Basin region. According to reports, the avalanche was accidentally started by the skier, who was one of three people in the group. The unidentified skier was apprehended, hauled, and partially buried with his head and arm exposed, according to UAC.

According to reports, the fall was 200 feet broad and three feet deep. UAC authorities characterized it as a soft slab avalanche, which is made up of mushy, low-density snow.

Thankfully, the avalanche did not result in any reported injuries.

Avalanche danger is still “moderate” over Utah’s mountain ranges, according to the Utah Avalanche Center. Avalanches up to 400 feet broad and four feet deep could be triggered, according to UAC’s avalanche forecast for the mountains in the Salt Lake region.

According to UAC forecaster Paige Pagnucco, “prudent decision-making and cautious route finding are essential, especially on steep slopes with buried, persistent weak layers, primarily facing the north half of the compass at mid to upper elevations.” “Solar slopes should shed loose wet sluffs with possibly deep debris piles due to today’s significant warming.”

A number of avalanches have been reported in the past few days, according to the UAC. The primary problem, according to the center, is still a hidden layer of weak, faceted snow. On thin, rocky terrain where avalanches have already occurred this season, avalanches on this buried layer are more likely to occur.

 

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