More than 900 slides were reported to the Utah Avalanche Center last winter, per its annual report.

The skier saw the warning signs. Wind had piled thick heaps of snow on precariously tilted slopes. Ahead of him, a party of three more backcountry skiers triggered a small but powerful avalanche.

Still, beckoned by the fresh powder coating the sides of Little Cottonwood Canyon near Lisa Falls, the solo skier chose to tempt fate. And fate bit.

When the first slab broke, he was prepared. He deployed his airbag and, after it passed, immediately switched his bindings out of uphill mode to ski out of it. Then the second, larger slide steamrolled over him. It barreled him, forcing his face down, sending snow into his airways and tossing him over a cliff.

The experience was harrowing, according to a report submitted by the skier — identified only as “Davenport” —to the Utah Avalanche Center. And yet, it wasn’t extraordinary. More than 50 people were caught and carried in avalanches in the Salt Lake area alone during the 2023-24 ski season, according to the annual report the UAC released Tuesday.

The total number of avalanches reported across Utah during the 150-day forecast season, which spans mid-November to mid-April, was 902. More than a third of those (356) were determined to be human-triggered, the report said, and they swept up 63 skiers statewide.

Much of that information came from the nearly 2,000 slide observations reported to the UAC. Starting in 1987, the UAC became the first avalanche center in the United States to collect and publish public observations. That formed the foundation of the agency’s observation program, according to the report.

“After reading the daily avalanche forecast,” the report noted, “reading the published observations is one of the most valuable tools a backcountry user has to learn and understand backcountry and avalanche conditions.”

January apparently was a particularly tricky month.

“Avalanches occurred everywhere,” the UAC states in the report, “as the poor snowpack structure provided little foundation for the new snow. This remained the trend for most of January as subsequent large storms reactivated the faceted layer. By the end of the month, over 300 avalanches were recorded around the state with numerous catch and carry’s [sic], including a few full burials who were all luckily successfully rescued.”

In fact, thanks to the efforts of Search and Rescue volunteers and good Samaritans, Utah almost escaped the winter without an avalanche death. That changed in May, however, when three men were caught in a late-season avalanche below Lone Peak. Two of them, 32-year-old Austin Mallet of Wyoming and 23-year-old Andrew Cameron of Salt Lake City, perished in the slide.

That avalanche occurred after the UAC ceased its daily forecasts for the season. However, Chris Labosky, a close friend of Mallet, said that “wouldn’t have made a difference” for the three seasoned adventurers.

“It would have made no difference at all,” he said, “because their assessment would have been in line with … the forecasts [the UAC] would have issued anyway.”

It was February when the man identified as “Davenport” found himself being pummeled by an avalanche near Lisa Falls. He wrote that his own actions were “baffling and shameful to me.” He also remarked that had another skier not risked his own life to attend to him and call for a helicopter rescue after the second slide, he probably would have died.

“When the slide stopped I remained submerged but managed to dig my face out, breathe, and begin to drag myself up and to the side of the couloir and (relative safety),” he wrote. “I likely was concussed or mildly hypoxic from my burial as I kept thinking this was a dream for several minutes. When my head cleared a member of the earlier party of three had skied to me and begun calling for a helicopter evacuation. He helped get me warm and recover my airbag pack and I cannot stress enough that his bravery in going down to me with hangfire above was exceptional.”

The rescuer also requested a helicopter lift after two subsequent avalanches swept through the area.

“This was a miracle,” a member of the rescuer’s party wrote in his report for the UAC. “This avalanche ran through what anyone would consider unsurvivable terrain.”

The UAC was formed in 1980 with the mission to provide winter backcountry travelers such as skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers and snowshoers with resources and education to keep them out of danger’s path.

“Our goal,” UAC Director Mark Staples wrote, “remains ensuring the backcountry community has quick and easy access to the information they need to stay safe.”

After nine years at the helm, Staples will be leaving the UAC for a similar position with the Gallatin Avalanche Center in Montana. He will be replaced by Paige Pagnucco, who has been with the UAC for 19 years, most recently as its program director.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Polls closed for Utah’s primary elections on June 25 and preliminary results began coming in, setting the stage for the upcoming general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

While official voter canvassing results were not scheduled to be available until July 22, the Associated Press projected winners for several races by June 25.

Here’s what to expect for the voting process for the general election in November.

Who is running in Utah?

The June 25 primaries narrowed down the list of candidates running for office in Utah.

Gov. Spencer Cox was the projected winner for the gubernatorial race, according to the AP.

Rep. John Curtis was expected to clinch the Republican nomination to replace Sen. Mitt Romney, and would face off against Democratic challenger Caroline Gleich and Independent challengers Carlton E. Bown and Robert Newcomb in the 2024 General Election in November.

For a full list of Utah’s candidates, click here.

When are the registration and voting deadlines?

Depending on how Utahns register to vote, the deadlines for registration may vary.

Deadlines for registration (and how to register)

Voters in Utah can register online, in person, or by mail.

Online voter registration is available at vote.utah.gov, and it must be completed by Oct. 25, 2024. The deadline for registering by mail is also Oct. 25.

If registering to vote in person, the deadline is Nov. 5, 2024 (meaning you can register on Election Day if you have the proper forms of identification).

Deadlines for voting

Early in-person voting at the Government Center begins Oct. 22, 2024, and ends Nov. 1, 2024. Early in-person voting at satellite locations begins Oct. 29, 2024, and ends Nov. 1, 2024.

If returning a ballot by mail, the ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 4, 2024. Ballots should be sent to voters by Oct. 15, and the last day to request a mail ballot is Oct. 29.

On Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 5 — Utahns can vote at polling locations from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

To find the closest polling location to you, visit votesearch.utah.gov and enter your address.

How do you check registration status in Utah?

If you want to vote but are unsure if you have already registered, you can check your status online at votesearch.utah.gov. To check your registration status, you need to provide your name, date of birth, and address.

That website can also display tracking information for mail ballots or provisional ballots, but not if you voted at a voting machine or in person.

Once you register to vote in Utah, you don’t need to re-register unless your registration status changes.

“If you have moved outside of the state and returned, or your name has changed, or your registration has lapsed by not voting in the last two presidential elections you will need to re-register,” according to the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office.

Registering on Election Day

Did you know that if you are not yet registered to vote you can do so on Election Day?

“A poll worker will assist you in registering to vote and casting a provisional ballot on an electronic voting machine,” the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office said.

To register on Election Day, you must bring a valid photo ID and proof of Utah residency to an Election Day vote center during polling hours. To see the full list of approved forms of identification, click here.

Who can vote in Utah?

There are three criteria for voters in the Beehive State.

First, you must be a resident of the United States in order to be eligible to vote in Utah. Second, you must reside in Utah for at least 30 days prior to the next election.

Third, you must be at least 18 years old on or before the general election. If you are 17 years old at the time of the primary election, you may still vote if you are 18 years old on or before the date of the general election.

The Utah Jazz have an exciting night tomorrow because they have the 10th, 29th, and 32nd pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. the Jazz have been in several rumors regarding the draft. Some rumors suggest the Jazz will trade up for higher than pick number 10. Some rumors suggest the Jazz will package picks 29 and 32 for a higher second pick in the first round. The honest observation at this point is that the Jazz might do just about anything for the draft. Tune in tomorrow night from home or from the Delta Center to find out what the Jazz do in round one! To watch the draft, tune in to ABC or ESPN.

Round One Draft: 6 PM MST, June 26th

Round Two Draft: 2 PM MST, June 27th

Below are projections on who the Jazz could select with their 3 picks. The projections are based on the Jazz’s rumored interest and generally where players are projected to be picked.

10th Pick Projections:

Ron Holland

Nikola Topic

Rob Dillingham

Cody Williams

Zach Edey

Dalton Knecht

29th Pick Projections:

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Kyshawn George

Ryan Dunn

Baylor Scheierman

AJ Johnson

Justin Edwards

Cam Christie

Tyler smith

Johnny Furphy

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Pick 32 Projections:

Picks 29 and 32 are close so these projections mainly overlap.

Harrison Ingram

Kyle Flipowski

Trentyn Flowers

Jonathan Mogbo

Jaylon Tyson

Tyler Kolek

Bronny James

Bobi Klintman

Final Prediction

This projection could be way off because this draft has a lot of parity and the Jazz could very well trade some of their picks. With that said, I predict that the Jazz select Nikola Topic with the 10th pick. For the 29th pick, The Jazz go for Ryan Dunn. For the 32nd pick, I predict that the Jazz select Jaylon Tyson. I think the Jazz will almost make a trade or two tomorrow but don’t quite pull the trigger.

What do you think the Jazz will do tomorrow night? Comment below!