RECCO Partners With AIARE to Support Women’s Mentorship Program RECCO, a manufacturer of rescue technology that makes backcountry travelers more searchable, has partnered with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) to support the institute’s Women’s Mentorship Program. The partnership will enhance AIARE instructor and student awareness of RECCO technology and how to incorporate the technology into safety planning for backcountry travel. Related: The RECCO Story | […] Industry News AvyBrains | October 6, 2023 0 Comments
22nd Annual Colorado Snow and Avalanche Workshop is in Breckenridge on Friday, October 27th, 2023 The 22nd annual Colorado Snow and Avalanche Workshop (CSAW) is Friday, October 27 at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge. CSAW is a professional-level event with content aimed at avalanche industry workers and advanced recreationalists. All are welcome to join for a day of presentations, networking, and displays from our industry partners. Related: PSA: Now is the Time to Sign Up […] Avalanche AvyBrains | October 2, 2023 0 Comments
Lawsuit Filed Against Park City, UT, Cat-Skiing Operator by Widow of Skier Killed in Avalanche Park City Powder Cats, a renowned guided skiing tour operator in Utah, is facing a lawsuit over the death of a skier in an avalanche in Weber Canyon, 45 minutes from Salt Lake City in the Uinta Mountains earlier this year. The wife of Ryan Barr, a 46-year-old San Diego native who died in the avalanche on March 9, 2023, […] Avalanche AvyBrains | August 4, 2023 0 Comments
3 Caught 1 Killed in Avalanche on Split Mountain, CA Low avalanche danger doesn’t mean no avalanche danger. On the afternoon of July 2, three hikers were caught and carried by a wet-loose avalanche on Split Mountain near Big Pine, California. The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center reports that two of the hikers sustained mild to moderate injuries from the slide while the third sustained severe injuries before ultimately succumbing to […] Avalanche AvyBrains | July 7, 2023 0 Comments
Utah Avalanche Center Releases Annual Report: Record Number of Avalanches in 2022/23 The Utah Avalanche Center, responsible for the eight Utah forecast regions, has wrapped up its season and published its Annual Report, including metrics around forecasting, education, and awareness programs. Here are some of the main points: Statistics: Snow/avalanche 219 % average snowpack 395 human-triggered avalanches 92 people caught 14 people buried 3 people killed Budget $1,600,000 total budget 20% from […] Avalanche AvyBrains | June 20, 2023 0 Comments
Avalanche Kills Skier on Hurd Peak, CA | First Avalanche-Related Fatality in June Since 2012 “On June 14th, 2023, a party of 2 was caught, carried, and one skier was killed in a wet avalanche on the north face of Mt Hurd, about 1.5 miles south of South Lake in the Bishop area. The avalanche released above the party as they were ascending the slope. As the avalanche ran downhill skier 1 was carried over […] Avalanche AvyBrains | June 16, 2023 0 Comments
[VIDEO] Avalanche Damage During Utah’s Record-Breaking 22/23 Winter Among “Worst Ever Seen” The video above shows the destruction caused by heavy snowfall and avalanches during Utah’s record-breaking winter 22/23. Thousands of trees and a bathroom facility at Tanner’s Flat campground were destroyed. Related: State of Emergency Declared Across Utah Due to Destructive Flooding Due to this, the cleanup in Little Cottonwood Canyon will be a more significant task than usual. This year, […] Avalanche AvyBrains | June 1, 2023 0 Comments
Lone Backcountry Skier Killed At Bald Mountain Near Breckenridge, CO A lone backcountry skier triggered an avalanche on the east face of Bald Mountain, about 6.5 miles southeast of Breckenridge on Saturday, April 29, 2023. While the slide was relatively small at only 250ft wide and 10 inches deep, it produced enough destructive force to bury and injure the skier, who has been identified as Benjamin Ryan of Littleton, CO. The […] Avalanche AvyBrains | May 5, 2023 0 Comments
Avalanche in Denali National Park, AK, Kills Parks Employee An avalanche killed a Denali National Park and Preserve employee while he was backcountry skiing within the park on a north-facing slope near Mile 10 on the Park Road on Thursday, May 4. Around 1 pm an individual reported to staff that they had observed a lone skier triggering an avalanche on an unnamed slope south of Jenny Creek and East of […] Avalanche AvyBrains | May 5, 2023 0 Comments
[UPDATED] Avalanche Danger Closes Little & Big Cottonwood Roads in Utah | Limited Access Today, No Public Uphill Access View this post on Instagram A post shared by UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@udotcottonwoods) Soaring temperatures (Alta hit 60ºF this weekend at 10,000′) and absurd amounts of snow have created high avalanche danger that has closed Little & Big Cottonwood roads (SR-190 & SR-210) in Utah Saturday through at least Tuesday during selected times. Road Closure Alert Little Cottonwood […] Avalanche AvyBrains | May 1, 2023 0 Comments
Solo Backcountry Skier Killed by Avalanche Near Breckenridge, CO On Saturday, a solo backcountry skier was killed in an avalanche near Breckenridge, CO. The 31-year-old man was skiing a northeast-facing couloir on Bald Mountain, or Baldy, southeast of Breck. His girlfriend reported him missing when he didn’t return her phone calls. PRELIMINARY REPORT: A solo skier was caught, buried, and killed in a small but long-running avalanche. The avalanche […] Avalanche AvyBrains | May 1, 2023 0 Comments
22-Year-Old Killed by Inbounds Avalanche in Closed Area of Lake Louise Ski Resort, AB A man died, and two others were injured after they triggered and were caught and buried by an avalanche while skiing the West Bowl at Lake Louise Ski Resort, AB. The area was closed to the public due to high avalanche risk. The three skiers ducked a rope to access the area on Saturday afternoon. None of the individuals were […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 24, 2023 0 Comments
30-Year-Old Man Killed By Roof Avalanche Near Brighton Resort, UT Avalanches don’t just happen in the backcountry. On Monday night, 30-year-old Ryan Peterson had gone up to a cabin his family partly owns near Brighton Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon when the snow situated on the structure’s roof slid and fell on top of him. He was buried with no one around to help him, according to Utah’s KUTV news […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 19, 2023 0 Comments
Snowmobiler Killed by Avalanche in British Columbia A snowmobiler was killed on Saturday after getting caught in an avalanche in the Thunderwater Lake area north of Panorama, BC. Related: Head On A Swivel – Snowmobile Avalanche Awareness Avalanche Canada says a group of three was snowmobiling above Whirlpool Lake when two riders were caught in an avalanche reportedly triggered near a rocky feature on a slope. “A […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 17, 2023 0 Comments
Giant Avalanche Kills 3 Sherpa Climbers on Mount Everest There’s been a disaster on the world’s tallest peak. Related: 1 Killed and 3 Injured After Avalanche Hits Group of Heliskiers in British Columbia Three Sherpa climbers were navigating the Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest when a serac on the glacier above them collapsed. According to reports in The Himalayan Times and the website Everest Chronicle, the three Sherpas climbers were buried […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 13, 2023 1 Comment
1 Killed and 3 Injured After Avalanche Hits Group of Heliskiers in British Columbia A skier has been killed after an avalanche hit a group of heliskiers in northwestern British Columbia yesterday. Three others were injured after the slide hit the group of five on a backcountry tour with Last Frontier Heliskiing around 3:30 pm on Tuesday, April 11th, 2023. The group was touring around the remote Bell II Lodge, around 100 miles north of […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 13, 2023 0 Comments
Full Utah Avalanche Center Report Published of Skier Killed by March Slide on Guided Tour in Utah On Thursday afternoon, March 9, a group of guided skiers triggered an avalanche in the Upper Weber Canyon, Utah. Upper Weber Canyon is located 45 minutes northeast of Salt Lake City. The Summit County Dispatch received a call at 3:30 p.m. and multiple agencies responded. Two skiers were caught, carried, and buried and a transceiver search ensued. Both individuals were […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 12, 2023 0 Comments
Ski Patrollers and 4 Dogs Conduct Search After Inbounds Avalanche at Aspen Snowmass, CO An avalanche on a closed run at Snowmass ski area in Colorado yesterday prompted a search and rescue mission involving a team of ski patrollers and four avalanche dogs. No individuals were found, and nobody has been reported missing. Related: Defining What Exactly is Backcountry, Sidecountry, Frontcountry, and Slackcountry The avalanche, which appears to have been triggered naturally, was spotted by […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 12, 2023 0 Comments
[VIDEO] Pro Freeskier Hedvig Wessel Pulls Airbag After Getting Caught in Avalanche View this post on Instagram A post shared by HEDVIG WESSEL (@hedvigwessel) Norwegian Freeskier Hedvig Wessel has shared on social media the first and only time she has pulled her airbag after getting caught in an avalanche. First time I pulled my airbag I want to share this line with u, first of all to show some of […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 7, 2023 0 Comments
[VIDEO] Out-of-Bounds Avalanche Crosses into Open Beginner Area at Snowbird, UT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Powderchasers (@powderchasers) Alta and Snowbird opened today for the first time since a 60+ inch storm tore through the Wasatch earlier this week, leaving them closed for days due to high avalanche danger. With Little Cottonwood Canyon still closed for avalanche mitigation, the lucky souls already there were treated to their own […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 6, 2023 0 Comments