Eleven clients and two guides were attempting to cross an avalanche path in the Uinta Mountains last month when one of them fell, according to a Utah Avalanche Center report, and that fall likely triggered the slide that killed a San Diego man.
The group had booked the trip through Park City Powder Cats, which has been operating snowcat tours on its 15,000-acre Thousand Peaks Ranch and surrounding areas for nearly 30 years. A search for untouched terrain on one of their final runs of the day, just after 3 p.m. on March 9, took the skiers to a southeast-facing slope about three miles west of Windy Peak.
“On a scale of one to five, the terrain was rated at that elevation at level two, so moderate avalanche danger,” Gordon said. “And of course what that means is that human-triggered avalanches are possible.” Meanwhile, the search for the second skier continued, aided by snowcat drivers and other PCPC guides. When they picked up the signal for that skier, it indicated he was buried about six feet under the snow, according to the report. The first guide led the excavation process, and when they uncovered the skier, he was face down, not breathing and had no pulse. Efforts to resuscitate him failed, and he was declared dead an hour and 20 minutes after the avalanche.
Barr was just the second skier to die in an avalanche in the Uintas since at least 1914, according to a UAC log that dates back to the year, though a dozen snowmobilers have died there. The only other skier death in the range took place in 2002 — before the UAC created avalanche forecasts for the area — when experienced avalanche worker Brian Roust and his dog were killed in a slide on Windy Ridge, which is also in upper Weber Canyon.in recent years, however.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Department of transportation grants $24 million for Otay Mesa bridge project -SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A $24 million grant was announced today for a bridge project in San Diego as part of the federal Infrastructure Law’s Bridge Investment Program. Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Andrew Rogers visit San Diego on Thursday to announce the funding for the San Diego bridge project, a 50-year- old Palm Avenue overcrossing, a key connector for the...
Read more »
Search for San Diego County's new Chief Administrative Officer pausedThe decision was made in wake of the unanimous no-confidence vote against embattled District Four Supervisor Nathan Fletcher.
Read more »
The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: April 13-16Here are some of the best things to do in San Diego County this weekend, including classical music, spring activities and festivals, food events, concerts and more.
Read more »
Earth Day events in San Diego CountySan Diego County communities are celebrating Earth Day and/or Arbor Day in April with cleanups, festivals, tree plantings and expos
Read more »
Port of San Diego removing dozens of ailing coral trees from bayfront propertyCoral trees pose a falling hazard as a result of high salt content in soils, a situation exacerbated by recent storms, according to officials
Read more »