Authorities have identified the man who lost his life in a weekend avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon as 59-year-old Higinio Juan Gonzales of Salt Lake City.
Gonzales was one of two individuals caught in the slide on Saturday, February 8. According to the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, he was buried under the snow and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The second person involved, whose identity has not been released, was rescued and transported to a hospital with significant leg injuries. Despite the severity of his condition, officials confirmed his injuries were not life-threatening.
The Utah Avalanche Center’s initial assessment reported that the avalanche measured approximately two feet deep and 150 feet wide. Investigators have yet to determine the exact cause of the slide.
Over the weekend, avalanche conditions across Utah’s mountain regions were classified as “high” or “considerable,” meaning backcountry travel was strongly discouraged. As of Monday, the avalanche risk in the Salt Lake area had been downgraded to “considerable,” while other nearby mountain regions were assessed at “moderate” danger levels.
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