Mental Health Resources For Mountain Athletes

Last week, two skiers died in an avalanche in Big Willow Aprons. A third skier was caught and partially buried but ultimately survived. In the wake of this tragedy, the ski community is reeling. The Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) released a preliminary report (read here ) and will release a longer report once more information has been gathered.

In the meantime, everyone is figuring out how to navigate the aftermath of such an event in the way that feels best to them. But often it can be hard to even know where to start when dealing with grief. The Wasatch Backcountry Alliance (WBA) recently re-shared a list of mental health resources for mountain athletes that's a good starting place if you're looking for help. WBA wrote on their Instagram:

"Our hearts go out to the members of our community affected by last week’s avalanche accident.

We share your grief at the loss of these vibrant friends, tour partners, and so much more. Check in with each other and make sure your people know you care.

This past winter, we hosted a community event, Mountain Resilience: Navigating Grief, Long-Term Injury, and Identity Crisis in the Backcountry.

Our panel of local mountain athletes and experts in therapy and recovery, Jess Shade, River Barry, and Jessie Brunelle, shared their personal journeys through grief, long-term injury, and identity crisis. They shared coping strategies, the role of therapy, and ways to build resilience in the face of challenges."

Find the list of resources here.