Co-op Creek Avalanche

[07SummitX800R]

East of Heber 10 miles. Kinda scary when it happens where you ride all the time. "You wouldn't think it was that dangerous..."

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2410883

Heard he passed away at the hospital. Thoughts and prayers to the family.

 

[Woof]

Damn

 

[TheCirque]

Please be careful...Snow is Wierd Right Now!!!

We rode similar area, Western Uintas, earlier in the week. We stopped to chat in the meadow flats for a few minutes. After about 5 minutes of 3 sleds just sitting there we heard a pop and we all sunk about 1-2 inches. The weight of us sitting there compressed the weak layer...although it took a few minutes.

IMHO, I'm afraid it's going to take some time for this weak layer to work itself out of the snowpack....and the forecasted ice cold temps aren't exactly going to help expedite the process.

Becareful out there. You've got to follow all the rules, wear your beacons and don't do anything questionable. Live to ride another day!!

Prayers to the family.

 

[07SummitX800R]

I'm trying to get a better idea about where this avalanche occurred. It was near the Smith Basin area above Co-Op creek, which if my google earth mapping is correct would place it just west of Tower Mountain. Can anyone confirm this, or correct me on it?

 

[snengineer]

I was in the area yesterday and with all that fantastic snow people were forgetting the risks and riding on hills that were VERY dangerous with Extreme avy danger. I appreciate them leaving all the nice boondocking snow for us though.
Its to bad that someone has died riding yesterday, may we all take note and take the steps we ALL need to be better prepared for avy's like this.

 

[snengineer]

I'm trying to get a better idea about where this avalanche occurred. It was near the Smith Basin area above Co-Op creek, which if my google earth mapping is correct would place it just west of Tower Mountain. Can anyone confirm this, or correct me on it?

Just south east of Tower Mtn, somewhat near the Groomed trail out of Co-op Creek.

 

[Freak]

hmmm died at the hospital, I take that to mean that he almost made it. Heard he was under the snow for an hour, surely with beacons this time would have been reduced.... I feel awful for the family that is going to haunt them....

 

[Old-n-Slow]

Freak do you know where this was? We are going riding in the area 13 14 14 January. I dont know that I have heard of the name (Smith Basin) Can you help me?

 

[Club Guide]

Map

Smith Basin is 3 miles S.W. of Tower it is 2 miles W. of Buck Basin where there was a Avy death last year.

Map of Smith Basin

 

[Old-n-Slow]

Smith Basin is 3 miles S.W. of Tower it is 2 miles W. of Buck Basin where there was a Avy death last year.

Map of Smith Basin

Thank you

 

[07SummitX800R]

Buck Creek Avy

Yeah, the guy killed in the Buck Creek Avy was my Dad's cousin... Sad story.