CAIC

Avalanche Details

Location: Upper Weber Canyon, southwest of Windy Ridge
State: Utah
Date: 2023/03/09
Time: 2:00 PM (Estimated)
Summary Description: 2 skiers caught and fully buried, 1 injured and 1 killed
Primary Activity: Backcountry Tourer
Primary Travel Mode: Ski

Number

Caught: 2
Fully Buried: 2
Injured: 1
Killed: 1

Avalanche

Type: HS
Trigger: AS - Skier
Trigger (subcode): u - An unintentional release
Size - Relative to Path: --
Size - Destructive Force: --
Sliding Surface: O - Within Old Snow

Site

Slope Aspect: SE
Site Elevation: 10300 ft
Slope Angle: 37 °
Slope Characteristic: --

Accident Summary

PRELIMINARY: On March 9, 2023, a group of guided skiers triggered a large avalanche in Upper Weber Canyon. Two skiers were caught, carried, and fully buried. A transceiver search ensued. One skier was successfully excavated and flown to a nearby hospital. The other skier was buried deeper and wasn't breathing when he was uncovered. Both air ambulance and guide personnel initiated CPR, but the rider did not survive.

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> Two skiers were caught and fully buried in this avalanche on March 9, 2023. One skier was injured and the other was killed. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/0yt6u1old0i829nom7znmyd6hz7l?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=52ff83e109dab4254a530520e53abb14','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)