Four people have died in avalanche terrain in the Utah in the past nine days.
According to preliminary reports from the Utah Avalanche Center, all of the accidents involved slides that failed on weak, faceted snow that formed during an extended dry spell in January.
“In nearly all of these and many other close calls, the individual or party triggered the avalanche from below while in gentle terrain. It’s not enough to be on low-angle terrain: You can collapse the slope and pull the avalanche down on top of you,” said forecaster Bo Torrey.
On Wednesday, Feb. 18, a snowmobiler was killed in Ant Knolls in the Wasatch Back. On Thursday, Feb. 19, an 11-year-old skier died in the Rock Garden area of Big Cottonwood Canyon. On Saturday, Feb. 21, one backcountry skier was injured and another critically injured in Butler Basin in Big Cottonwood Canyon. That skier died Friday from injuries sustained in the slide. On Feb. 22, a snowbiker was killed in Caribou Basin.
Torrey warned in Friday’s forecast that avalanche danger remains considerable, with large natural slides reported on Wednesday and more possible.
“Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential,” Torrey said.
The dry layer that formed in January sits under 1 to 3 feet of snow and has been responsible for four fatalities, several accidents and more than 70 reported avalanches in the Salt Lake area since Feb. 17.
“The situation has recently become more complex as the overlying slab has grown increasingly strong and hard,” said Torrey. “The hardness and thickness of the slab allow it to behave as a shield, making it more difficult to impact the weak layer. As the slab has strengthened, it’s led to very wide avalanches that connect through and around terrain features across a slope.”
Because the slab is stronger, common snowpack tests may not provide clear warning signs, forecasters said, leading to a false sense of security among experienced backcountry users.
“Recent avalanche activity is the best indication of current conditions,” said Torrey. “Both large natural and human-triggered avalanches yesterday point toward the high-consequence nature of this problem.”
In the wake of the recent accidents, the Utah Avalanche Center emphasized that avalanche risk can persist even for those familiar with backcountry travel and that ongoing education is important to not overlook.
“You can never have too much education,” said Kate Waller, the center’s development director.
Waller said interest in avalanche classes has increased in the past two weeks, with community members asking whether it is too late in the season to sign up for courses, which remain available through the season and are designed to meet a range of experience levels.
Over this slow and unpredictable winter season, many people have delayed their backcountry plans and, in turn, their training, Waller said. Unlike past seasons, when classes fill by December or January, this winter’s low-snow start has left more openings later into March.
Some early season courses were pushed back due to a lack of coverage, and this has also created additional chances for people to participate in the latter half of the season, Waller said.
On March 26, the next free Know Before You Go awareness presentation is scheduled in Park City. The one-hour session introduces participants to basic avalanche awareness, including how avalanches occur, how to identify avalanche terrain and how to interpret general risk factors while recreating outside ski area boundaries.
The next Introduction to Avalanche Rescue course is scheduled for March 6 in Salt Lake City. The one-day, $140 session focuses on companion rescue skills, including beacon searches, probing and shoveling techniques. The center also offers Backcountry 201: Avalanche Refresher for more experienced backcountry travelers to revisit their training, with the next two-day, $450 on-snow course scheduled for March 13 and 14.
In addition to classroom and local field courses, the Utah Avalanche Center is partnering with Bear River Lodge for a four-day snowmobile education program scheduled for March 19 through 22. The small group course combines avalanche instruction, riding skills and outdoor survival modules, led by educators from the Utah Avalanche Center and the Backcountry Institute.
The center is also hosting continuing education talks throughout the season that examine recent avalanche incidents, persistent weak layers and current snowpack problems in greater depth.
“It’s really allowing people to continue refining their backcountry decision-making,” said Waller. “We try to make all of our programs accessible, not only financially, but also based on how you ride in the mountains.”
The Pinebrook Park beacon training area in Park City remains active, providing a public space for users to practice beacon searches and rescue scenarios. Waller said the need for education and awareness does not disappear just because it has been a lean snow year.
Despite a slow start to the season and periods when many people were not traveling in the backcountry as frequently, Waller said the organization has met, and in some cases exceeded, several of its fundraising goals this winter. Donations allow them to keep many programs low-cost or free to the public.
“We couldn’t do it without that community. And it’s pretty cool that even if someone’s maybe not getting out every day or as much as they typically would, they’ve still donated,” said Waller. “It’s a testament to the strength of the community here.”
Education opportunities can be found at tinyurl.com/2f8r3nss.