Terrible news out of Utah.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52907844-78/avalanche-resort-kobernik-ski.html.csp

Very sad. Looks like trauma from being swept over a cliff got him, rather than being buried by the avalanche. Believe it happened on steep inbounds terrain under the tramline at Snowbird, but before the resort opened for the season. There had been no avalanche control work done by ski patrol. Perhaps a deceptively dangerous timeframe to hike for turns.

This is the man who set world record for a ski cliff jump/huck. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0SDQcm0VcU

This witness reprt gives me chills

http://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche_alta_gunsight_couloir_11132011

"Witnessed 3 avalanches in less than 30 minutes. The first was released by the first of many people to drop into Gunsight Coulior. It ran to the bottom without carrying the skier. Then several more people dropped in, sometimes two or three riding at once. About the 5th person to drop in released a bigger slide that carried him to the bottom. Members of his party reached him quickly and shouted to call 911. As the injured waited for help, people continued to drop in and ski down directly above. Shortly after (while the injured was still waiting for help) a snowboarded dropped in 50 yards downridge (North) and released a soft slab that ran over a cliff band and into some small pine trees - luckily not carrying the rider. A second rider dropped in and rode to the first rider. Both continued down without any additional incidents. We did not travel into the danger area to get better details on the slides, but the activity we were witnessing seemed downright suicidal. When we left there were still people hiking up the ridge and preparing to ride the same or similar slopes."

Me too. I've spent a month or more in Little Cottonwood Canyon each of the last 3 seasons. On every new snow day I would see people in the buses that go up the canyon from SLC with their backpacks and skins (the real men fold them and attach to the skis with Voile straps). This would be the morning after >18" of new snow in 24 hrs. and often with wind loading as well. It astonishes me that avalanche deaths in lCC are not many times larger than they are. I have lost my desire to hang it out there that far, if indeed I ever had it. There are incredible lines visible on both sides of the road, a road that historically dates back to the mining days and that many say would never be built today. Those lines can kill you, and almost all have claimed their victims over the years. The cavalier attitudes of those who will go up there after a new snow and wind loading event just astonish me.

More;

http://utahavalanchecenter.org/accident_gad_valley_11132011

"The rescue teams from the ski areas and Wasatch Backcountry Rescue often put their necks out on the line to access and evacuate an injured party. It was reported that other parties at Alta continued to ski and knock down avalanches into Greeley Bowl while the rescue was in progress. Creating another incident during this situation is unacceptable. "