Utah Sees Two Avalanche Deaths in One Week

Originally posted on Powder | By Matt Lorelli | Last updated Jan 2, 2025 11:57 AM ET

The Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) is reporting that two avalanche-related deaths have occurred in less than one week as the state's snowpack is reeling from a dangerous persistent weak layer.

The first fatality occurred on Saturday, December 28, 2024, on Porter Fork Pass near Big Cottonwood Canyon. Salt Lake County Search and Rescue (SLCOSAR) responded to a missing person report when a family member did not return as expected.

SLCOSAR searched for two days in the Porter Fork area out of Millcreek Canyon, but could not ascend to higher terrain due to high avalanche danger. On Monday, December 30, 2024, a backcountry skier found the missing person who, "appeared to have been buried in an avalanche just below Porter Fork Pass."

The victim was a 38-year-old from Quebec, Canada.

The second fatality occurred on Davenport Hill on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. A solo snowboarder is believed to have triggered an avalanche on the north facing Davenport Hill in the Silver Fork Drainage of Big Cottonwood Canyon. The snowboarder was caught in the slide and buried.

The avalanche was a Soft Slab that released due to a persistent weak layer buried under fresh snow. The slide occurred at an elevation of 9,800 feet, was two feet deep, 300 feet wide, and ran for 400 vertical feet.

Another party noticed fresh tracks leading directly into the avalanche debris and called for help. Multiple Search and Rescue teams were deployed. The snowboarder was found using an avalanche transceiver buried under approximately 20 feet of snow.

According to the UAC's avalanche forecast on January 2, 2025, avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE to HIGH across northern Utah (see below).

UAC is advising all backcountry travelers to avoid avalanche terrain for the foreseeable future as natural slides, and large remotely-triggered slides, are possible on nearly all aspects and elevations.

Our thoughts and condolences are with the friends and family of the deceased during this difficult time.

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This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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