Powder Mountain, UT Shuts Down All Uphill and Hiking Access

Powder Mountain, UT announced yesterday that with immediate effect they will be closing to uphill skiers and hikers. 

To support the Governor’s urgings for people to stay home and maintain safe social distancing, Powder Mountain will be closing for skiing and hiking effective immediately for the next two weeks.

We will evaluate reopening at the end of this critical two week period. This includes any and all types of recreation on the mountain.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Last week Utah Governor Gary Herbert asked Utahns to immediately begin staying home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued a similar directive to residents in the capital city beginning last Friday at midnight.

Having said that, there were 42 human-triggered slides over a five day period in Utah, and a number of people had to be extricated from the backcountry by search and rescue teams.

• Related: 42 Human-Triggered Avalanches in Utah in Past 5-Days!!

Why so many?

Because the ski resorts are closed due to Coronavirus which is putting more people than ever into the backcountry and people are making overly aggressive decisions on when and where to ski & ride.

• Related: Injured Snowboarder Rescued From Utah Backcountry on Saturday | 5th Rescue of Weekend

Sunday, March 29th, there were 7 human-triggered avalanches listed below:

• Farmington Lakes – 8,500′ northeast facing 2.5′ x 300′ wide.
• Mt. Wolverine – 10,200′ southwest facing 8″ x 50′ wide. One rider caught and carried.
• Mill B South – 10,000′ southwest facing 2′ x 100′ wide. One rider caught and carried.
• Neffs – 9000′ northwest facing 6″ x 10′ wide.
• Benson & Hedges Ridge – 10,200′ west facing 12″x 50′ wide running 1,000′ vertical.
• Brighton Backcountry – 9,800′ west facing 12″ x 40′ wide.
• Evergreen Ridge – 9,600′ northwest facing 12″ x 40′ wide. One rider caught and carried.

See reports from all 42 human-triggered avalanches in Utah in the past 5-days here:

• Utah Avalanche Center’s List of 42 Avalanches

Many backcountry skiers & riders are not following guidelines set up to protect us from spreading Coronavirus via social distancing and only recreating within your very near local area.

Many backcountry skiers & riders are not following guidelines set up to avoiding injury to avoid creating an additional burden to our healthcare system.

• Guidelines For Backcountry Use During the Coronavirus Crisis

These 3 human involved avalanches in Utah on Friday were dramatic:

• Snowboarder in HUGE Avalanche at Snowbasin, UT on Friday Tells Full Story
• Avalanche on Mt. Superior, UT Takes Skier for 2,000′ Ride at Speeds up to 77MPH Yesterday
• 2 Partially Buried in Avalanche at Snowbasin, UT on No Name Peak on Friday | Full Account:

There was A HUGE NUMBER of human triggered avalanches in Utah Friday.

Avalanche Rating on Friday, 3/27/20 was:

• Moderate above treeline
• Low near treeline
• Low below treeline

On Friday, there were human-triggered avalanches in all of these locations and more in Utah:

• Mt. Odgen
• Mt. Superior
• Snowbasin ski resort, No Name
• Cardiac Ridge (near Alta)
• Main Days (near Alta)
• Providence Peak  (near Logan)

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