Photo: Utah Avalanche Center
A 37-year-old man was killed in an avalanche Monday in the Monte Cristo area near the Rich and Cache County line, according to the Utah Avalanche Center.
Scott Wright from Evanston, Wyoming, was out with a friend when his snowmobile was caught in a slab avalanche and completely buried. His friend immediately sprung into action to dig him out of the snow but was unable to find a transceiver signal that would help him locate Wright. He then called for help, with multiple local agencies starting a search effort around 3 p.m. The search involved Cache County, Weber County, Life Flight, Utah Department of Public Safety, Powder Mountain K-9, and a Black Hawk helicopter provided by the Diesel Brothers (reality show), and Rich County SAR. Wright was finally located several hours later at 6:21 pm.
We are sad to report that on 2.3.25, a 37-y.o man from Evanston, WY, died in an avalanche while snowmobiling in the Monte Cristo Area near the Rich and Cache County line. Our condolences to all impacted. Staff from the UAC will visit the site today to gather more information. pic.twitter.com/S7Z1LCpxdP
— UtahAvalancheCenter (@UACwasatch) February 4, 2025
One member of the search effort, Dave Sparks of Sparks Heavy Rescue, told local news that the “the way the slide fell” made their job extremely complicated, and pointed to exceptionally dangerous conditions this season.
“This was a difficult one because the slide was really, really big. It was one of the bigger ones I’ve seen,” Sparks told Fox13 Salt Lake City. “There was slabs of snow that were five feet thick by 12 feet long — just monster slabs of snow.”
Sparks also told local news, “This year it’s terrible snow, some of the worst snow I’ve ever seen,” speaking to the dangerous conditions in the Utah area this year.
