The Utah Avalanche Center has issued an advisory to warn outdoor recreators that the avalanche danger is on the rise this week. On Christmas Eve, two men riding snowmobiles on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest were caught up in a large avalanche. One of the men was fully buried but thankfully had a beacon so the other was able to dig him out and both men survived. According to the Utah Avalanche Center, the current danger rating from Logan to Provo on the Wasatch mountains is Considerable and the Uintas current danger rating is Moderate. “Human triggered avalanches are POSSIBLE especially on steep, rocky, leeward slopes, and particularly in terrain facing the north half of the compass,” shares the announcement. “The walls aren’t caving in just yet but with additional snow and wind, it’s gonna get tricky and the danger may bump up a notch and rise to CONSIDERABLE by day’s end.” Any backcountry users are urged to have completed avalanche safety training before heading out and always having proper avalanche safety equipment.
