MESSAGES:
The season is just starting and already tragedy strikes. What does this mean for the coming season?
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- An avalanche swept five snowboarders down a rocky slope in the
Wasatch Mountains on Saturday, killing a New Hampshire man and seriously injuring a woman.
Salt Lake County sheriff's deputies did not release the names of those caught in
the avalanche, pending notification of the family of the 21-year-old man who was killed.
The group had ventured into Alta and Snowbird ski resorts, neither of which was
open. The snowboarders were descending Mount Baldy at Snowbird when the snow
broke loose and swept them down the cliffs and exposed rocks.
``It was awfully lucky for any of them to survive,'' Sheriff's Sgt. Lane Larkin said.
The woman taken to Alta View Hospital was in serious condition with leg,
back and chest injuries.
The body of the man who was killed was found under about two feet of snow
but was not recovered. Winds of up to 75 mph forced officials to abandon their
efforts for the day.
AP-NY-11-08-98 0402EST
Copyright 1998 The Associated Press.
MESSAGES:
The season is just starting and already tragedy strikes. What does this mean for the coming season?