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Three Injured in Two Big Cottonwood Canyon Avalanches After Sheriff Corrects Initial Fatality Report

Quick bystander rescues highlight perilous backcountry conditions flagged by forecasters.

Overview

  • Around 10 a.m. near Butler Fork, two skiers were buried and dug out by fellow backcountry users—including an emergency physician—before being airlifted to Intermountain Medical Center, where a 57-year-old is critical and a 48-year-old is serious.
  • At about 2:45 p.m. near Days Fork, a separate slide carried a 40-year-old skier who sustained injuries not believed to be life-threatening, according to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.
  • The sheriff’s office initially reported a death, then issued a correction stating the person remained in critical condition; officials said Sunday there were no new updates on the men’s conditions.
  • Utah transportation officials closed portions of State Route 190 during rescue operations and reopened the road around 1 p.m.
  • The Utah Avalanche Center reports high avalanche danger statewide, warning that human-triggered slides can break deep and wide and urging backcountry travelers to carry rescue gear and exercise extreme caution.