Snowboarder Ryan Smedley, 34, was found dead in Taylor's Canyon near Ogden's Snowbasin Resort following an avalanche he triggered. He and a friend were snowboarding in the backcountry, which is not maintained by the ski resort.

The body of 31-year-old Marshall Higgins has yet to be recovered from snow that buried him on New Year's Eve while he was snowshoeing near Mount Timpanogos. He was an experienced snowshoer, was with a friend and knew the area well, but he was overtaken by heavy snow and poor weather conditions. His friend was able to outrun the avalanche and call for help.

"It's been since 1986 that someone was killed (in Utah) inside ski resort boundaries on a run," Tremper said.

Ski resorts have the responsibility to maintain and control avalanche danger on their property. Outside those boundaries, skiers are left to fend for themselves. Since Nov. 14, the Utah Avalanche Center has reported more than 110 avalanches triggered by skiers, snowboarders or snowmobilers.

"The snow's been stable this year," Tremper said. "It's been good riding conditions."

He said the storm that was expected to hit the Wasatch Front today may cause avalanche danger to increase significantly in the backcountry.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com