By CANDACE PERRY
A massive avalanche crashed down near Bridal Veil Falls and buried all four lanes of traffic in Provo Canyon late Sunday night.
The avalanche, which was 500 feet wide and 60-feet deep in some places, closed U.S. Highway 189 until the crews blasted through, reopening the road Monday evening.
A smaller slide came down a few hundred feet near the large slide, reaching the road, and another avalanche damaged three homes in Sundance on Sunday -- no one was injured.
High avalanche danger, created by warm temperatures and heavy rain, set off several slides in both Provo and American Fork Canyon over the weekend. Crews worked throughout the day setting off controlled avalanches in order to lower the risk of future slides.
Avalanches have killed more people in Utah than any other natural hazard, and the numbers are increasing, according to the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center.
Saturday, two ice climbers were caught in an avalanche while climbing the ice on the upper falls. The men were pushed several hundred feet down steep terrain by snow and debris. The avalanche passed three other climbers who helped rescue Scott Lee, 25, of Sandy, and lead other rescuers to the scene where Doug Hall, 27, of Silverton, Colo., had died from massive head and internal injuries suffered in the fall, said Sheriff's Lt. Ron Fernstedt.
Lee was hospitalized with chest, head and back injuries, but was in stable condition Monday at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.
Another woman was buried under 8 feet of snow after an avalanche hit her while snowshoeing. Camille Coyle, 22, of Sandy, survived 90 minutes beneath the slide. An intern from the Avalanche Center found her by probing the ground with collapsible poles, after Coyle's cousin, who had missed the slide, called others for help.
As 'the greatest snow on earth' draws more snowmobilers, snowshoers, snowboarders and skiers to Utah's mountains, efforts are being made to deter the growing number of accidents and deaths caused by the treacherous slides.
A three-day 'Avalanche Awareness' course is being offered on Jan. 28 and Jan. 30 from 7-10 p.m., and Feb. 1 from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Snowbasin Ski Resort. For more information, call 626-6373.