A Utah man who was buried in an avalanche on Christmas Eve was rescued by his brother, who miraculously saw his hand sticking out of the snow.
The two men rode snowmobiles through the Steep Hollow area of Franklin Basin in Cache County, about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City.
An avalanche occurred when they drove over a slope or side hill, taking one brother with it, according to an incident report from the Utah Avalanche Center.
The driving snow carried it about 500 feet, longer than a football field, before it was completely buried.
Toby Weed, a forecaster at the Utah Avalanche Center, told us Fox 13 Salt Lake City that the brothers were lucky to be prepared with the right equipment.
“The brother who wasn’t buried used his transceiver to find the brother who was buried, and that got him pretty close,” Weed said. “And when he got close enough, he saw some fingers sticking out of his brother’s snow and he was able to dig him out.”
Weed said the buried brother had minor injuries and both men were able to leave the area.
“Those boys had a very, very happy Christmas Eve,” Weed said.
Two brothers were snowmobiling in the Steep Hollow area of Franklin Basin when one of them caused an avalanche. The aftermath is pictured above
The snow carried one brother about 500 feet before he was completely buried. The brother who was not buried was able to save him thanks to a transponder
Equipment found in the snow from one of the brothers
Snowmobilers traveling through Utah’s backcountry 16 years ago, including on Christmas Eve, were not so lucky.
Weed explained that a group of four men were driving up Providence Canyon when one of them caused an avalanche.
Two riders, 22-year-old Erik Jorgensen and 23-year-old Jesse Johnson, both from Utah, were killed.
Weed said there are proven ways to prevent avalanches.
‘Number one: always consult and read the forecast. According to the forecast that day, there was a significant avalanche danger,” he said.
The avalanche danger in that area of Utah is considered high this weekend.
The Utah brothers’ miraculous survival comes after Swiss snowboarder Sophie Hediger tragically died in an avalanche on Monday at the age of 26
Sophie Hediger takes second place during the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Men’s and Women’s Snowboard Cross on January 26, 2024 in St. Moritz
This comes after Swiss snowboarder Sophie Hediger tragically died in an avalanche on Monday at the age of 26.
The Swiss Ski Federation announced the heartbreaking news on Tuesday, revealing that the incident took place at the Arosa resort in the Swiss Alps.
“We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we extend our deepest condolences,” federation CEO Walter Reusser said in a statement.
‘For the Swiss Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie Hediger has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays. We are immeasurably sad. We will keep Sophie in honorable memory.’
Hediger took second place at the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Men’s and Women’s Snowboard Cross on January 26, 2024 in St. Moritz.
Hediger’s death came nine days after she turned 26 on December 14.