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Updated May 10: Andrew Cameron, 23, from Utah, and Austin Mallet, 32, from Montana, have been identified as the victims in the May 9 avalanche on Lone Peak in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon. The third person, whose identity remains undisclosed, was rescued by search and rescue teams and a helicopter. He was taken to a nearby hospital and released on the same day. Read more here.
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May 9: Officials have confirmed two people died in the May 9 avalanche near Lone Peak in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon. A third person was transported off the mountain and taken to a local hospital for assessment. Recovery efforts have been suspended for the day and will resume in the morning.
The north-facing region of Lone Peak, where the avalanche occurred, is known for its steep and unforgiving terrain, posing a higher risk of avalanche activity. More than two feet of new snow fell in the region this week, bringing the season total at nearby Snowbird to just over 600 inches. The National Weather Service predicted strong winds throughout Thursday, with gusts over 60 mph.
The Utah Avalanche Center stopped issuing regular advisories in mid-April, transitioning to intermittent reports of any activity. On May 1, the UAC issued its final product of the season for the Salt Lake Area mountains, reminding skiers of the three different avalanche problems typically encountered during spring: wet snow, new snow instability, and wind-drifted snow.
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Greg Gagne, an eight-year forecaster for the Utah Avalanche Center, highlighted the challenges of forecasting during spring, urging individuals to monitor changing conditions themselves. “This time of year, it’s really difficult to get an accurate report,” said Gagne. “What you say at 7 a.m. could be wrong at 7:30. In the spring, warm and cold air are mixing in the atmosphere. It’s so volatile.”
Gagne noted the recent weather fluctuations, which exemplify the unpredictable nature of spring conditions. “On Saturday, we had warm, sunny temps, and it began to snow on Sunday,” he said. “This past week was more like January than May.”
He emphasized the heightened avalanche danger in the high-alpine areas of the central Wasatch, particularly in steep, unforgiving terrain. Despite elevated danger earlier in the winter, the overall danger returned to typical levels in the last 6-8 weeks. While there were reported avalanche incidents throughout the season, including several requiring rescue, as of May 1, there had been no avalanche fatalities in Utah.
This story is ongoing and will be updated as new information becomes available.