A massive avalanche on the popular Utah mountains killed a skier, leaving another one seriously injured on Saturday.
The fatal accident unfolded around 12:45pm at the large Cottonwood Canyon Mountain near Cardiff Fork and Silver Fork, shutting down the nearby major highway, Fox Affiliate Reported by KSTU-TV News.
The two skiers, a man in their 50s, were together when they were buried in the snow, the outlet said.
One of the men was declared dead after rescuers pulled him away from the drift.
“My heartfelt sadness of dol's meanness is going out to the family and friends of skiers who have been tragically lost their lives today,” said Mayor of Salt Lake City. Jenny Wilson said in the post On Facebook hours after the incident.
“I personally lost my family to the mountains in Salt Lake County nearly 30 years ago and can be directly linked to the overwhelming grief,” Wilson said. “Our stunning mountains and canyons offer us a powerful connection to nature, but sometimes the connections bring unimaginable heartache.
“We also hope for a quick recovery to other skiers who have been caught in an avalanche and survived,” the mayor added.
The names of the two men have not been released.
Then, about 30 minutes after the Cottonwood avalanche, three skiers were caught in a snow slide on a nearby Dutch draw slope, the Summit County Sheriff's Office said.
“Two skiers were able to ski from the slides, but one skier was buried.” The Sheriff's Office said on Facebook. “The two unburied skiers quickly dug out a third individual. All three skiers were safely escorted out of the mountains and no on-site treatment was required.”
Authorities say the avalanche was 40 yards wide and the skiers were triggered.
“We are relieved that there were no fatal or serious injuries, but this incident serves as an important reminder of the risks of backcountry recreation,” the Sheriff's Office said.
