Avalanche — Wasatch Mountains South of I-80, Utah

2016-01-21 · Wasatch Mountains South of I-80, Utah

Event narrative

A group of skiers was skiing along Gobblers Knob, between Big Cottonwood and Millcreek Canyons, on the afternoon of January 21. An avalanche, about 600 feet wide, was triggered, and two of the skiers were caught. One skier was partially buried and sustained minor injuries. The other skier, a 49-year-old male, was fully buried by the avalanche. He did not have a pulse when others dug him out of the snow, and he was pronounced dead later that day when all attempts to resuscitate him proved unsuccessful.

Wider weather episode

Two skiers at Gobblers Knob, near Big Cottonwood Canyon, were caught in an avalanche, and one of them was killed by the accident.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 616658. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.