Search and Rescue officials in Utah are pleading with the public to avoid hiking and skiing in the backcountry after a snowstorm claimed three lives in the space of just 10 days.
Affecting parts of Utah and Idaho, the recent storm was triggered by a sudden cold snap in western parts of the US. In the past two weeks, the Cotton Canyons area received more than 20 inches of snow while Wasatch Back was, at times hit by about two inches per hour.
The sudden heavy snowfall has prompted 17 avalanches, which have claimed three lives. On December 28 and 31, avalanches killed two men trekking alone through the backcountry. Both avalanches were triggered by human activity as new, heavy snow fell on loose, faceted snow to create a persistent weak layer…