The Wasatch Thread: Skiing and Riding in Utah

[raisingarizona]

OMFG.

View attachment 68001

Yup. That was the western winter. Termps go well above freezing again in almost every Rocky Mountain ski town next week. Hopefully we see a miracle March. The fires this coming spring/summer/fall are going to be scary af.

 

[BenedictGomez]

https://x.com/SLCScanner
#Breaking Avalanche Response Below Mary’s Chute Near Brighton Resort BRIGHTON, Utah — Emergency responders were dispatched around 12:30 p.m. today to reports of an avalanche below Mary’s Chute, an area just outside the ski boundaries of Brighton Resort at 8302 S Brighton Loop Rd. Unified Police Department, Unified Fire Authority, and Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to the scene. Initial reports indicated that only one person was observed in the slide. Brighton Ski Patrol and other resources quickly mobilized to the location. After a search effort, one individual was located in the debris. CPR was immediately initiated by responders. A medical helicopter was dispatched to transport the patient but made several attempts to land at different locations before high winds forced it to return to base without making contact. The patient was ultimately transported by ground ambulance to an area Hospital for further treatment. No additional details on the individual’s condition or identity have been released at this time.

It was a child, and she died.

Second Utah avalanche death in < 24 hours.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Yesterday's fatality in Snake Creek was a snowmobiler. Father and son. Son lived.

EDIT: Clip of avalanche inspection

https://x.com/natalie_wadas/status/2024616244683616383/video/1

 

[thetrailboss]

It was a child, and she died.

Second Utah avalanche death in < 24 hours.

Child killed after getting caught in avalanche at Brighton Ski Resort

Officials say the girl and her family went into an out-of-bounds area at Brighton Resort where she was caught in an avalanche. She was taken to a hospital where she died of her injuries.

www.sltrib.com

 

[BenedictGomez]

The avalanche yesterday at Park City where nobody died was at Nutty Putty.

Two members of the party were carried by the slide. One was partially buried, while the other was fully buried with only a boot visible above the debris. Both survived without injury. The third member of the group was not hit.

 

[jimk]

Sorry to hear about the girl at Brighton. I spent 3 or 4 hrs at Snowbird today, it was quite busy, but I was patient and had fun, mostly off Gad 2 chair. Gorgeous day. This big snow is a great reset to the season!

 

[raisingarizona]

Child killed after getting caught in avalanche at Brighton Ski Resort

Officials say the girl and her family went into an out-of-bounds area at Brighton Resort where she was caught in an avalanche. She was taken to a hospital where she died of her injuries.

www.sltrib.com

This makes me feel sick to my stomach and really sad, the parents are going through a hell that no one should have to experience.

 

[Smellytele]

This makes me feel sick to my stomach and really sad, the parents are going through a hell that no one should have to experience.

A hell they created.

 

[Julius]

Yes a hell they created., we were skiing there and later learned. Heard it was in the rock garden off C6. (haven’t read the official reports yet because it took us couple hrs+ to finally get a bus that had room and get home‍).

Heard ambulance sirens and was wondering why all the helicopters were buzzing around, both military and rescue copters..

simply put. It didn’t need to happen.

 

[ThatGuy]

But I dunno where 31" comes from, just curious where they're coming up with it.

Their assses. I think theyve been doubling up on the totals or using overlap between clearing the stake

 

[raisingarizona]

A hell they created.

And one they are going to have to live with for the rest of their lives. It’s a nightmare.

 

[raisingarizona]

Yes a hell they created., we were skiing there and later learned. Heard it was in the rock garden off C6. (haven’t read the official reports yet because it took us couple hrs+ to finally get a bus that had room and get home‍).

Heard ambulance sirens and was wondering why all the helicopters were buzzing around, both military and rescue copters..

simply put. It didn’t need to happen.

All of us are imperfect. Exercising empathy and being kind isn’t always easy.

 

[thetrailboss]

There is not much new information about the avalanche in the Rock Garden at Brighton yesterday. Although I am a bit disappointed to hear (and see) that one of those helicopters that was over Brighton was a KSL News Helicopter trying to get footage.

I also saw that there were 50 reported avalanches yesterday alone according to the news.

Accident: Brighton Perimeter - Utah Avalanche Center

utahavalanchecenter.org

 

[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. 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]

Please, please be safe this weekend. We don't need a third death from avalanche.

Forecast - Utah Avalanche Center

utahavalanchecenter.org

Special Avalanche Bulletin​

What: The Utah Avalanche Center is warning of dangerous avalanche conditions across all Utah mountains this weekend. This week’s heavy snowfall and strong winds overloaded preexisting weak layers, creating a HIGH avalanche danger across the entire state. With improving weather moving in for the weekend, avalanche accidents are likely in the backcountry. There have already been two tragic avalanche fatalities this week, as well as several close calls and numerous backcountry avalanches reported.
When: In effect from 6:00 AM MST today to 6:00 AM MST Monday
Where: The mountains of Utah and southeastern Idaho.
Impacts: Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry and will persist through the weekend. Natural avalanches are possible, and people are likely to trigger avalanches on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Dangerous and deadly avalanches can be triggered remotely (from a distance or from below). People leaving ski area boundaries are entering the backcountry where the same dangerous avalanche conditions exist.
Warning Times: Friday, February 20, 2026 – Monday, February 23, 2026 at 6:00 AM MST

 

[BenedictGomez]

if Condor is even on their radar to open.

Super Condor is going to open this weekend, possibly tomorrow.

Depends how much work they finished today. I could see patrol up there, but there's obviously lots of ropes and lift stuff to be done, and I imagine Murdock needs to be dynamited to hell. I'd planned on spending tomorrow on 9990, but now I might "linger" around the Saddleback trees just in case.

 

[ThatGuy]

Super Condor is going to open this weekend, possibly tomorrow.

Depends how much work they finished today. I could see patrol up there, but there's obviously lots of ropes and lift stuff to be done, and I imagine Murdock needs to be dynamited to hell. I'd planned on spending tomorrow on 9990, but now I might "linger" around the Saddleback trees just in case.

My friend on patrol said Saturday. They still need to check a lot of stuff over there and the north facing woods need to be gone through. Maybe tomorrow but I wouldn’t stay off of 9990 just hoping to catch it.

 

[ThatGuy]

Found a Slug in his natural habitat

 

[thetrailboss]

Super Condor is going to open this weekend, possibly tomorrow.

Depends how much work they finished today. I could see patrol up there, but there's obviously lots of ropes and lift stuff to be done, and I imagine Murdock needs to be dynamited to hell. I'd planned on spending tomorrow on 9990, but now I might "linger" around the Saddleback trees just in case.

Wait, has Super Condor not been open until this weekend? Don't they have some snowmaking on it? I know it has a lot of natural terrain.

 

[thetrailboss]

Another avalanche in BCC that has buried two people and closed SR-190.

Rescue operation underway in Big Cottonwood Canyon

A search and rescue operation is underway in Big Cottonwood Canyon, continuing what has been a deadly and dangerous week on the Utah ski slopes.

www.fox13now.com