An avalanche forecaster became the 16th avalanche fatality in the U.S. this season Thurdsay when he was swept to his death testing snow conditions in Big Cottonwood Canyon for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). Craig Patterson, 34, was a Park City-based avalanche safety instructor, who had worked for UDOT since 2006
Patterson was among seven avalanche forecasters used by the state to assess condition in Little and Big Cottonwood Canyon. Workers recovered his body early Friday morning.
The UDOT family lost one of our own Thursday when veteran avalanche forecaster Craig Patterson died in a snow slide, UDOT Spokesman Nile Easton said in a statement released to the media. Craig had worked with the department since 2006 and was a veteran back country skier. He was out doing the job that he loved to do, making the canyon safer for everyone to enjoy.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones as we continue to gather information about this terrible tragedy.”
Sixteen people have been killed by avalanches in the United States this winter, including 8 skiers, 1 snowboarder, 1 snowmobilers, 4 hikers/snowshoers and 2 classifed as other, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
