SANTAQUIN CANYON, Utah, Feb. 2, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Several avalanches in Santaquin Canyon on Saturday happened near where ice climbers and another group of people were out, enjoying nature.
The avalanches happened three to four miles into the canyon, said a statement from Sgt. Spencer Cannon, Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
“Two ice climbers and another group with six people are uninjured and all accounted for,” Cannon said in the news release, posted on social media at about 2 p.m.
“They are making their way out now. UCSO SAR is verifying that no one else is in the canyon.”
Someone who gave his name as Eric posted observations on the Utah Avalanche Center website, making the following statement:
“Slides all hit within a few minutes of the sun coming out. Aspect of the avalanche source was unknown, but likely west facing. We were in a north facing gully at the base of squash head ice climbing.
“Two slides went off in our gully within a couple minutes of each other. Three slides in a neighboring gully at the same time. Three of of us hit by the debris, but none buried.
“Numerous climbers nearby. No one buried in our area. Around 11 am. Temperatures roughly low 40s. One climber on the route was hit by much of the avalanches but was unhurt.”
