Searchers have discovered the bodies of two backcountry skiers who were swept away and buried by an avalanche in the mountains outside Salt Lake City.
SANDY, Utah — Searchers on Friday recovered the bodies of two backcountry skiers who were swept away and buried by an avalanche in the mountains outside Salt Lake City the day before, officials said.
The men, Andrew Cameron, 23, of Utah, and Austin Mallett, 32, of Montana, were killed in an avalanche Thursday morning in the Lone Peak area of the Wasatch Mountains southeast of the city. Officials declined to reveal his hometown.
Search teams found the man's body Friday morning, Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said. The body was removed from the mountain by helicopter and taken to the coroner's office. Amy Race of the Salt Lake City Unified Police Department said.
Storms on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday dumped up to a meter of heavy, wet snow on the region and brought strong winds.
“So the avalanche danger has skyrocketed,” said Craig Gordon, an avalanche forecaster with the U.S. Forest Service's Utah Avalanche Center.
“Another complicating factor for the weather and snow situation is that it's spring now and weather patterns and weather systems can change rapidly in the mountains,” he says. The day can start out sunny and then turn to clouds, snow, and strong winds.
“And all of these factors can affect the dynamic nature of the snowpack and increase avalanche risk,” Gordon said Friday.
According to a preliminary report from the Avalanche Center, the three men were climbing a ridge on a slope known as Big Willow Apron and were near the top when the accidental slide occurred.
The first climber was carried downhill on the right side of the ridge and was partially buried. He dug a hole for himself, called for help, and was able to be rescued by noon Thursday. Race said he would not release his name.
The center said Cameron and Mallett were swept away and buried on the left side of the ridge. Weather and snow conditions hampered recovery Thursday.
Alan Bergstrom, one of the eight rescue workers who recovered the body, said: “We know it's hard on the family to have to leave someone there.” .
Rivera said family members of the two victims were at a temporary search location near Sandy on Thursday and Friday.
Bergstrom, head of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team, said, “There are situations like today where we might be able to identify people on the mountain,'' making recovery efforts difficult for searchers. Ta.
The crew “was able to dig out and get it out pretty quickly and get back to the helicopter,” Bergstrom said. landing site. ”
Gordon said the three friends weren't planning on skiing where the avalanche occurred, but were planning to ski at several other locations Thursday.
The snow broke about 2 feet (61 centimeters) deep and 250 feet (76 meters) wide and slid about 500 feet (152 meters), the Avalanche Center said.
Lone Peak, where the avalanche occurred, is one of the highest peaks in the Wasatch Mountains, which tower over Utah's capital city. Its steep and rugged terrain makes it a popular destination for advanced backcountry skiers, and experienced mountaineers scale its sheer granite walls during the warmer months.
“It's very serious terrain here. It's steep. It's facing north. The crew that was there would have to be very experienced,” Gordon said Thursday.
Rivera confirmed the man was an experienced skier.
The death brings the total number of avalanche fatalities in the U.S. this winter to 15, according to the Utah Avalanche Information Center.An average of 30 people die in avalanches each year in the United States.
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Hanson reported from Helena, Montana.
