Separate avalanches in Utah this week killed an 11-year-old girl near a ski resort and a father who was snowmobiling with his son in the backcountry, marking the state’s first two snowslide fatalities of the season.
The child, identified as Madelyn Eitas from Rochester, Mass., was backcountry skiing with her family near the Brighton Ski Resort on Thursday when she was buried in the slide, Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office said. First responders, however, were unable to immediately reach the scene due to hazardous conditions.
The son was able to use an avalanche beacon to find his father and dig him out of the snow, according to officials. Despite the son’s efforts, his father died at the scene.
"The Wasatch County Sheriff's Office extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic incident," the sheriff’s office said in a statement. "We also recognize the courageous efforts of the juvenile involved and the responding personnel who assisted in this difficult situation. Our thoughts are with all those impacted."
Officials have warned the public to stay away from the backcountry this weekend following the two avalanche deaths.
"Conditions on the mountain are as bad as they have been all winter!" Wasatch Search and Rescue commander Kam Kohler told Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera echoed concerns about dangerous conditions.
"This winter has created layers within the snowpack that can be unpredictable," Rivera said in a statement. "We want people to enjoy the Cottonwood Canyons, but safety must come first. When conditions are unstable, the smartest decision may be to avoid backcountry recreation altogether."
The deaths in Utah happened in the same week that an avalanche in Northern California killed eight skiers, including six mothers taking a trip together, near Lake Tahoe. Six other skiers in the group were rescued, while one additional person was presumed dead.