Observer Name
UAC staff
Observation Date
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Avalanche Date
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Region
Logan » Franklin Basin » Steep Hollow
Location Name or Route
Steep Hollow, Box Canyon Headwall
Elevation
9,000'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
Unknown
Trigger
Snowmobiler
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
2'
Width
700'
Vertical
500'
Caught
1
Carried
1
Buried - Fully
1
Injured
1
Accident and Rescue Summary
A party of three, two brothers and their father went for a snowmobile ride in Franklin Basin on Christmas Eve. One of the brothers was side-hilling in a bowl beneath a cliff-band in Steep Hollow when he triggered the avalanche. He saw the slope ripple below and around his sled but was able to ride off the north flank of the avalanche. He watched as the avalanche swept up and carried his older brother, who was standing next to his sled below the slope, and when caught by the torent of snow, deployed his airbag. The avalanche carried both the rider and his sled down the slope for around 150 yards and through a group of trees, partially burying the sled and completely burying the older brother...
The father was stuck below the avalanche, but he switched his transceiver into search mode, and attempted to climb up to the toe of the avalanche. The snow was deep and completely unsupportable. He sank to the ground, wallowing up to his waist in the sugary snow, and could not make any headway.. The younger brother used a transceiver and an effective search pattern to first attain a signal, and then get close enough to see a couple of fingers of his brother's gloved hand sticking out of the snow. After his recovery, the older broth, who later found out the he'd broken a leg in the accident, doubled up with his brother and was able to ride out of the backcountry.
On December 26, We went up to the scene of the accident and recovered the bent-up and broken sled and a badly ripped airbag that the older brother had deployed when he was caught by the avalanche. The damage to the sled, the airbag, and the rider was caused by all being dragged violently through a group of trees by the avalanche.
Snow Profile Comments
I was in a different part of Steep Hollow, yesterday on 12-23. This is a snow profile from about 8500' on a northwest-facing slope in the same drainage.
Comments
Forecasters from the Utah Avalanche Center warn that similar avalanche conditions are widespread in the area and that the danger will be rising across the mountains of Northern Utah and Southeast Idaho as we head into the weekend.
Comments
Fox News published the following story on 12-24-24: https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/northern-utah/brothers-survive-cache-county-avalanche-despite-one-being-buried-in-snow
Brothers survive Cache County avalanche despite one being buried in snow
Posted 9:01 PM, Dec 24, 2024 and last updated 9:05 PM, Dec 24, 2024
Brothers survive Cache County avalanche despite one being buried in snow
Posted 9:01 PM, Dec 24, 2024 and last updated 9:05 PM, Dec 24, 2024
CACHE COUNTY, Utah — Two brothers are home safe after being caught in an avalanche on Christmas Eve morning in the Steep Hollow area of Franklin Basin in Cache County.
"Those guys had a very, very lucky Christmas Eve," explained Toby Weed, a forecaster with the Utah Avalanche Center.
The men were out for a ride on snowmobiles when one of them riding across a slope or “side-hilling” triggered the avalanche. One of the men was caught up in the avalanche and was carried about 150 yards and buried.
Luckily, Weed said both men had the equipment necessary for backcountry travel.
"The brother who was not buried used his transceiver to find the brother who was buried, and it got him pretty close," said Weed, "and when he got close enough, he could see a couple fingers sticking out of the snow of his brother and was able to dig him out."
The brother who was buried suffered just minor injuries and both men were able to ride out of the area. It was a much different outcome compared to another avalanche that happened in Cache County 16 years ago on Christmas Eve.
"It was actually a party of four young men who rode up Providence Canyon and only about maybe 15 minutes from Logan, when somebody, one or two of the party of four, triggered the avalanche," Weed said.
Two riders, 22-year-old Erik Jorgensen and 23-year-old Jesse Johnson, both from Utah, were killed.
Weed shared tips about how to avoid avalanche dangers similar to the deadly incident nearly two decades ago.
"Number one, always access and read the forecast. The forecast that day, was for considerable avalanche danger, and that's actually the same danger that it is here in Logan today," he said.
The avalanche danger level is expected to be high this weekend, which drives home the importance of taking a look at all the forecasts available for those going up into the backcountry.
Comments
The incident was discussed on NBC National News on Christmas night.
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