After a Utah man accidentally triggered an avalanche while riding a snowmobile on Christmas Eve, he was able to rescue his brother and return to safety. 

The unidentified pair of brothers and their father were snowmobiling in the Steep Hollow area of the Logan Canyon, a series of hiking trails in Cache County, Utah. The younger brother was riding across a slope when he triggered the avalanche, the Utah Avalanche Center said in a news release. 

The younger brother saw the snow ripple below and around his sled and was able to ride off the avalanche, but watched as it “swept up and carried his older brother,” who had not been on his snowmobile at the time of the incident, the UAC said. The avalanche carried the older brother and his snowmobile about 100 yards and through a group of trees, partially burying the machine and completely burying the older brother. 

The brothers’ father was stuck below the avalanche, but climbed up to try to search for his sons. He was hampered by snow that “was deep and completely unsupportable,” and became trapped up to his waist. 

The younger brother was able to get close enough to where his older brother was trapped to see “a couple of fingers” sticking out of the snow. The younger brother was able to dig him out of the drifts. 

The two brothers doubled up on one snowmobile and rode out of the area. Their father was able to get out of the snow and ride out as well. 

The older brother broke a leg in the incident, according to the UAC. The center said that on Dec. 26, its staff went to the scene of the accident and recovered the older brother’s “bent-up and broken snowmobile” and the airbag had deployed when he was caught in the avalanche. 

“The damage to the sled, the airbag, and the rider was caused by all being dragged violently through a group of trees by the avalanche,” the UAC said. 

The UAC warned that similar avalanche conditions “are widespread in the area and that the danger will be rising across the mountains of Northern Utah and Southeast Idaho as we head into the weekend.” 

Avalanches can occur on any steep slope, given the right conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Warning signs include cracks forming in the snow around a person’s feet or skis, a feeling of hollow ground, a “whumping” sound while walking, or surface patterns made by strong winds. Heavy snowfall or rain, or significant warming in recent days, could also be a warning sign for an avalanche, according to the NWS. 

To stay safe in case of an avalanche, the NWS recommends following advisories from regional avalanche centers, who will have up-to-date local information. Those going out in the snow should bring a transceiver so they can be found if they are buried in the snow, a shovel so they can help dig if someone is trapped, and a probe that can help locate someone covered by snow. 

Associated Press

Philadelphia 76ers (11-17, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (7-22, 14th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Saturday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Utah aims to stop its five-game home slide with a victory against Philadelphia.

The Jazz are 2-10 on their home court. Utah has a 2-3 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The 76ers are 6-8 on the road. Philadelphia gives up 110.5 points to opponents while being outscored by 4.1 points per game.

The Jazz’s 14.0 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.6 more made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the 76ers allow. The 76ers average 12.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.9 fewer made shots on average than the 14.9 per game the Jazz allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: John Collins is averaging 17.7 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Jazz.

Tyrese Maxey is scoring 25.7 points per game with 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the 76ers.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 114.5 points, 45.2 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 6.3 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.5 points per game.

76ers: 7-3, averaging 108.6 points, 41.4 rebounds, 22.9 assists, 9.8 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Jordan Clarkson: day to day (plantar), John Collins: day to day (hip), Keyonte George: day to day (ankle), Taylor Hendricks: out for season (fibula).

76ers: Jared McCain: out (meniscus), Andre Drummond: day to day (toe), Eric Gordon: day to day (illness), KJ Martin: day to day (foot).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

OLJATO, Utah – A Colorado man wanted for the murder of a minor on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation was arrested Tuesday, according to the Navajo Police Department. 

In a Facebook post from the NPD, Jeremiah Hight, 23, of the Ute Mountain Tribe was taken into federal custody after police had been looking for him in the Oljato area since Saturday.

Hight was a suspect in the murder of a minor during a shooting on the Ute Mountain Reservation in Towaoc, CO., according to the NPD.

The post said that a federal arrest warrant for murder was issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigations-Durango Office.

Police said the investigation was joined by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, NPD K-9 Unit, and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations-Kayenta District.