Need more proof that the avalanche conditions in the West are at all time highs? Salt Lake City’s KUTV reported yesterday that Snowbasin Patroller Mike Erickson, 42, was caught in a slide at around 7:45am while doing avalanche control work with explosives to safeguard the in-bounds terrain at the resort east of Ogden, Utah.
Erickson, a 15-year-vet, was skiing on a section of the mountain he was working when he was caught, picking up speed as he deployed his avalanche airbag, a standard piece of equipment for patrollers (similar to an inflatable lifejacket for big-waves), before being slammed into a tree as he was hurtled down the slope. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for broken ribs and internal injuries.
Avalanche conditions are extreme in the Western United States as large storms have dumped feet of snow throughout Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California. It’s a blessing for these drought-parched states but a definite hazard for backcountry enthusiasts. “If pros are getting caught off guard, then we should really exercise a lot of caution,” says Mark Staples of the Utah Avalanche Center.
Use your local avalanche centers for up-to-the-minute reports. Need a resource? Avalanche.org features complete listings of avalanche centers as well as classes and clinics across the country.
Snowbasin Resort features some of the best terrain in the state and is celebrating 75 years in operation.