Utah Man Rescues Brother After Accidentally Triggering Avalanche

Preview

On Christmas Eve, a Utah man named Braeden Hansen accidentally triggered an avalanche while exploring a mountain in Utah. The incident occurred in the Franklin Basin area of Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Braeden was standing next to his snowmobile, watching his brother Hunter ride above him on a steep section of the slope. The avalanche was triggered when Hunter saw the slope ripple beneath and around his sled, prompting him to ride off the north flank of the avalanche. However, Braeden was caught in the slide, which was about 500 feet wide and 2 feet deep, and carried him approximately 150 yards, fully burying him under the snow.

Preview

Hunter quickly used his transceiver to locate Braeden and saw a couple of fingers from a gloved hand sticking out of the snow. Hunter managed to dig Braeden out, and despite being buried, Braeden sustained only minor injuries. Both brothers were able to make it out of the backcountry safely.

The Utah Avalanche Center described the avalanche as a "large avalanche" and noted that the area was experiencing a persistent weak layer in the snow, which contributed to the instability. The center also warned of the ongoing avalanche danger in the region, especially with the significant snowfall and drifting leading to overloaded slopes.

Utah Man Rescues Brother After Accidentally Triggering Avalanche

Preview