An avalanche in the mountains outside Salt Lake City claimed the lives of two skiers and left one rescued on Thursday, following several days of spring snowstorms. The tragic incident highlights the risks for skiers venturing into backcountry areas during unstable weather conditions.
The Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake confirmed to CBS News on Thursday afternoon that two skiers died in the avalanche, while one skier was rescued. Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera stated that the rescued skier managed to dig himself out of the snow and was rescued by midday, then transported to a hospital for treatment. A rescue team in a helicopter surveyed the area on Thursday afternoon, confirming that the other two skiers were deceased. The deceased skiers were two men, ages 23 and 32, whose names have not been publicly released but whose families have been notified.
Due to unsafe conditions, rescue crews were unable to retrieve the bodies on Thursday, with plans to return on Friday morning if weather permits, Rivera added. She also mentioned that the rescued skier might have been the one who called for help, and authorities were speaking with him at the hospital to gather more information about the incident.
The skiers had hiked into the area on Thursday morning, Rivera said.
Craig Gordon from the Utah Avalanche Center reported that about 2.5 feet of heavy, wet snow had fallen in the area over the past three days. He emphasized that the terrain where the avalanche occurred was quite dangerous, requiring highly skilled and experienced skiers to navigate it safely.
The two fatalities bring this winter’s total of avalanche-related deaths to 15, which is lower than the average of around 30 annual avalanche deaths in the United States. This incident underscores the critical importance of avalanche safety and awareness for skiers and outdoor enthusiasts.
