Authorities Announce that MA Girl Killed in Brighton (Utah) Avalanche

[thetrailboss]

I had a sick feeling that this might have been someone from back east that was involved. Ducking ropes on the east coast may get you hurt, but out here it can easily get you killed. Even if it is in an area that is near the base lodge and in between two lift served areas. RIP.

Child identified after getting caught in avalanche near Brighton Ski Resort

A child was killed after getting caught in an avalanche while skiing with her family at the Brighton Ski Resort

www.fox13now.com

 

[thetrailboss]

The Utah Avalanche Center will post its report here after it completes its investigation and site visit:

Accident: Brighton Perimeter - Utah Avalanche Center

utahavalanchecenter.org

 

[BenedictGomez]

I had a sick feeling that this might have been someone from back east that was involved. Ducking ropes on the east coast may get you hurt, but out here it can easily get you killed.

Absolutely heartbreaking.

When I heard this happened I wondered if it was a couple of little girls that ducked a rope (kids being kids) or if it was actually parents that did this with their kid/kids. The guilt will be unbearable.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Yikes. That rock garden area is so accessible. Sitting kinda low on Brighton between the two lifts. Very inviting easy access sidecountry.

 

[thetrailboss]

Yikes. That rock garden area is so accessible. Sitting kinda low on Brighton between the two lifts. Very inviting easy access sidecountry.

Exactly. Very deceiving.

 

[thetrailboss]

Ski instructor emphasizes backcountry safety for families as avalanche risks remain high

A local ski instructor is highlighting the importance of backcountry safety awareness for families, especially when venturing into areas near popular ski resorts.

www.fox13now.com

It is still too early to know what happened, but I have to wonder if she was following her siblings or similarly aged friends under a rope line.....

"And the con is that it's a dangerous thing to do and that children don't have the same level of critical reasoning and critical thinking skills developed, and they're more apt to take chances or just to not be aware of their surroundings in a way that maybe adult might be," Weber said.

 

[jimk]

Sad event. Sorry to hear. And yes it's just a few hundred yards from in-bounds, lift served trails at Brighton.

A couple photos from Rock Garden, March 2022, cool little spot:

 

[thetrailboss]

For those not familiar, the approximate area of the incident. On this map it is within the shaded “resort” area, but technically it is beyond the rope line for the ski area.

 

[thetrailboss]

Brother of girl swept up in Brighton-area avalanche ‘heroically’ found 11-year-old before she died, police say

More than 20 strangers had jumped in to help family members, ski patrollers and police search for the 11-year-old girl suddenly caught in the backcountry avalanche just outside of Brighton Ski Resort's boundaries.

www.sltrib.com

Madelyn and her family had entered the popular out-of-bounds area known as the Rock Garden when she was swept up along the slide path, according to police.

 

[Tonyr]

I feel for this family. Brighton is a pretty mellow resort except for that section of the mountain. My son and I skied right back in that area a couple of years ago and instantly regretted it.

You can actually still see the lift from a distance here, making that out of bounds area deceptively challenging irregardless of snow conditions.

This guy pictured below was holding a rope so he could drop-in from a little cliff area. We were beyond the point of no return and had to follow his lead down...


I had to pop my son's skis off and lower him down over that section. I couldn't imagine a young family getting stuck back in that area with heavy amounts of new snow.

We saw tons of skiers going out of bounds off the Milly lift so I thought that must be good let's follow them. I'm sure this poor family thought the exact same thing.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Wow, I've never been there, but that's certainly avy area given that steepness. Looks beautiful though.

 

[Tonyr]

Those photos above came from that area of the mountain circled in red which is not far from inbounds...

 

[eatskisleep]

So sad. Just found out who it was and I worked with her father in the past. May she Rest in Peace. I can’t imagine what the Eitas family is going through right now.

 

[ThatGuy]

We saw tons of skiers going out of bounds off the Milly lift so I thought that must be good let's follow them. I'm sure this poor family thought the exact same thing.

Rock Garden is usually accessed from Crest it’s literally right off of Wren Hollow. You can get there from Milly but its a long traverse.

 

[thetrailboss]

Rock Garden is usually accessed from Crest it’s literally right off of Wren Hollow. You can get there from Milly but its a long traverse.
View attachment 68062

Yeah, if Wren Hollow is open later today I will check the rope line. I am pretty sure that the rope goes all the way around Wren Hollow and that there may be a gate tucked into the corner of the line where the summer hiking trail goes up to the lakes. There are so many tracks just outside the rope line that it could be very easy to think that one is safe.

 

[Vter]

OMG ! Eatskisleep just posted a connection with the deceased and you morons are talking your BS lines, without any regard.

Not a minute of any day do you give a fuck about anybody but yourselves.

You’re not even close to Hardcore, your self-absorbed wantabees. Hardcore knows death in the mountains and respects those who have perished.

Assholes

 

[thetrailboss]

OMG ! Eatskisleep just posted a connection with the deceased and you morons are talking your BS lines, without any regard.

Not a minute of any day do you give a fuck about anybody but yourselves.

You’re not even close to Hardcore, your self-absorbed wantabees. Hardcore knows death in the mountains and respects those who have perished.

Assholes

Yes, I saw that. It sucks. Me and others have expressed sympathy. Nothing I said was derogatory and I am not seeing anything else that is eyebrow raising except your comments. I think that your fake outrage is unwarranted. I say that because most of your other posts are trolling.....

 

[thetrailboss]

I skied Brighton last night, You could see the remains of multiple avalanches in the Rock Garden Area and in the upper part of Mary Chutes. Milly Bowl has had some avalanche mitigation work done, but is still closed. It has not opened at all this year.

I managed to get two runs down Wren Hollow before it closed for the night. There is rope about 2/3 the way around it on the perimeter. Where the line ends is on the flats near Dog Lake. The trail then bends back towards the resort and the rope line resumes until the junction with Lost Maid/Mary Back where there is a gap that has been beaten down by a lot of traffic. That is on the flats though. Up higher, there are signs, but there are lots of tracks under the rope. The one gate for the hiking trail was closed.

I hate to say it, but Brighton certainly sends a lot of mixed messages by having rope lines, signage, and "closed" signs but not really enforcing it too strictly. At night one can see lots of people regularly skiing "closed" day terrain with no consequence. Earlier this season before they got a lot of terrain opened, I was riding up with another local on Crest. They only had Pacific Highway open, and l saw folks pass by the "TRAIL CLOSED" signs on Tantamount/Wintergreen. They had made snow, but not pushed it all out. I commented to the other guy. His reply was, "yeah, they put "TRAIL CLOSED" signs up, but what they are saying is that you can ski it, it may not be fun, but there is no patrol to assist you." WTAF?! "So they won't pull your pass?" "Nope." I have no idea if this played any role in this incident, but I always found it odd.

Again, so sad for the family. As a Dad, I was driving down the Canyon and thinking that I could not imagine the emotions of the family as they did the same drive last week,