Avalanche — Wasatch Mountains I-80 North, Utah

2015-03-04 · Wasatch Mountains I-80 North, Utah

Event narrative

Following a very dry and warm winter, two friends wanted to take advantage of the fresh snowfall from early March, so they decided to go snowboarding at Snowbasin Resort on March 4. On one of their runs, they made their way out-of-bounds of the resort in an area called Hells Canyon. On their way out of this terrain, one of the snowboarders, a 21-year-old male, triggered an avalanche. He was caught and buried in the avalanche, while his trailing friend stayed out of the path and was able to find help. However, when the body of the victim was found an hour later, he was determined to have injuries incompatible with life, and he passed away that day.

Wider weather episode

Following the snowfall of the first three days of March, a snowboarder was caught and killed in an avalanche in Hells Canyon, just outside Snowbasin Resort.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 567920. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.