VIDEO/PHOTOS: Utah search and rescue volunteers are urging backcountry recreators to reconsider their plans as the Utah Avalanche Center issues its highest-level warning and authorities caution that unstable snow conditions could turn deadly.
The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is advising people to avoid the backcountry amid widespread snow instability. For the volunteer search and rescue crews who respond when things go wrong, the risks extend beyond those caught in a slide.
“We recognize that dealing with the aftermath is something that we will live with for the rest of our lives,” said Ryan Clerico, commander of Salt Lake County Search and Rescue. Clerico, who has served for 13 years, said he has seen avalanche missions shift from rescue to recovery within minutes.
Fatal slides, including a recent deadly avalanche near Lake Tahoe, serve as stark reminders of the stakes involved. “It’s an important part of what we do,” Clerico said. “The reason that we’re volunteers is because we recognize that that’s part of it.”
