The following information comes from the Utah Avalanche Center (www.utahavalanchecenter.org).
Accident and Rescue Summary
A close call occurred this afternoon (Dec. 7) when two riders were caught and carried by a scary avalanche just north of the Idaho state line in the Bear River Range.
The party of four was riding a bit northeast of Corral Hollow, near the ridge between Franklin Basin and Egan Basin. The avalanche happened on a northeast facing slope at around 9000-foot in elevation, while two of the riders were dealing with a stuck sled about 60 feet below the main ridge.
The third rider had turned out of the gully below the two, and was below and well out of the way when the forth rider triggered the avalanche from the ridge. The avalanche involving wind drifted snow only ran about 100 feet, but it swept up the two riders and sleds in its path. One deployed his airbag and ended up on top of the debris. The other was partially buried with only one leg sticking out of the snow. Luckily, neither rider was injured.
Both riders are quite okay, and they were able to ride their sleds out of the backcountry this afternoon.
Accident: Egan Basin
Observer Name
Matthew Jensen
Observation Date
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Avalanche Date
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Region
Logan » Southeast Idaho » Egan Basin
Location Name or Route
Ridge northeast of Corral Hollow, between Franklin Basin and Egan Basin
Elevation
9,000 feet
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
Unknown
Trigger
Snowmobiler
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
15 inches
Width
50 feet
Vertical
100 feet
Carried
2
Caught
2
Buried - Partly
1