Teen snowmobiler killed by avalanche

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A teenager snowmobiling in Uinta National Forest was caught by an avalanche, becoming the fourth person to die in Utah in a snowslide in a month, officials say.

The 15-year-old's body was discovered just before 6 p.m. Monday, about 90 minutes after he was buried, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Capt. Dean Carr of the Summit County Sheriff's Office said that the avalanche was 300 to 400 feet long and had a crown that was up to 6 feet high.

The Utah Avalanche Center issued a special avalanche advisory Sunday for the western Uinta range.

"A high avalanche danger exists on all steep mid- and upper-elevation slopes," said Caraid Gordon, a forecaster with the center. "Human-triggered avalanches are certain, natural avalanches are possible. Backcountry travel is not recommended."

Craig said that rain over Thanksgiving weekend created a hard crust on the snow pack that has led to unusually dangerous conditions.