(SANDY, Utah) – Search teams on Friday recovered the bodies of two skiers who were dragged and buried by an avalanche in the mountains near Salt Lake City a day earlier, authorities said.
The men — 23-year-old Andrew Cameron of Utah and 32-year-old Austin Mallet of Montana — were killed in the Thursday morning snowslide in the Lone Peak area of the Wasatch Range southeast of the city . Authorities declined to disclose their hometowns.
Search crews discovered the men’s bodies Friday morning, Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said. The bodies were removed from the mountain by helicopter and taken to the medical examiner’s office, Sgt. Aymee Race with the Salt Lake City Unified Police said.
Storms on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday brought up to 1 meter of heavy, wet snow and strong winds to the area.
“And that instantly increased the avalanche danger,” said Craig Gordon, avalanche analyst with the U.S. Forest Service, Utah Avalanche Center.
“The other factor that complicates weather and snow conditions is that it is spring and weather patterns and systems can change very quickly in the mountains,” he said. A day may start out sunny and clear before giving way to clouds, snow or strong winds.
“And all of these factors can influence the dynamic nature of the snowpack and increase avalanche danger,” Gordon said Friday.
The three men were climbing a ridge on a slope called Big Willow Aprons and were near the top when the slide was triggered unintentionally, the avalanche center said in its preliminary report.
The first climber was carried down the hill on the right side of the mountain and partially buried. He managed to dig himself out, called for help and was rescued at noon on Thursday. Race said they would not release his name.
Cameron and Mallet were swept down the left side of the ridge and buried, the center said. Weather and snow conditions impeded its recovery on Thursday.
“We know it’s difficult for families when you have to leave someone up there,” said Alan Bergstrom, one of eight rescuers who recovered the bodies.
Family members of the two victims were in the search area near Sandy on Thursday and Friday, Rivera said.
“There are situations like today where we may know the people who are on the mountain,” also making the recovery effort more difficult for investigators, said Bergstrom, squad leader for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team.
Crews “were able to dig in very quickly, get them out and get back to the helicopters,” Bergstrom said. “But as we were finishing up, the winds were picking up and the helicopter was starting to have a little trouble judging. the landing site.”
The three men, who were friends, were not planning to ski at the site where the avalanche occurred, but planned to ski at several other locations on Thursday, Gordon said.
The snow broke about 61 centimeters deep and 76 meters wide and slid about 152 meters, the avalanche center said.
The area where the avalanche occurred, Lone Peak, is one of the highest peaks in the Wasatch Range, towering over Utah’s capital. Its steep, rugged terrain makes it a popular destination for advanced skiers, while experienced climbers scale its granite walls in the warmer months.
“This is very serious ground. It’s steep. It faces north. The crew that was there would have to be experienced,” Gordon said Thursday.
Rivera confirmed that the men were experienced skiers.
The fatalities bring the number of avalanche deaths this winter in the U.S. to 15, according to the Utah Avalanche Information Center. An average of 30 people die in avalanches every year in the US
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