Avalanche
Two riders were caught and carried roughly 600 feet in a large skier-triggered avalanche Saturday afternoon in Hidden Canyon, just outside Brighton Ski Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah.
The slide, which reportedly occurred on a northwest-facing slope at around 10,200 feet, was observed by Brighton Snow Safety’s Malia Bowman and Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) forecaster Drew Hardesty while they were investigating another recent avalanche in the same area. According to the UAC’s preliminary report, the pair spotted fresh debris on a steep slope that had not been present the day before.
Investigators later confirmed clear signs that two people had been caught in the slide. Probe marks and burial pits indicated that at least one person had been fully buried, and another partially. Blood was found in one of the burial holes. The avalanche is estimated to have broken 2 to 4 feet deep and 200 feet wide, running approximately 600 vertical feet downslope.
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Bowman and Brighton Patrol Director Max McNeil examined the scene but could not safely reach the crown due to unstable hangfire. The avalanche is believed to have been triggered unintentionally by riders who exited the Brighton Ski Resort boundary through a closed area, ducking ropes and entering uncontrolled backcountry terrain.
The avalanche has not yet been formally reported by those involved, leaving critical details—such as the extent of any injuries—unknown. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Brighton Ski Patrol. “You are not in trouble,” investigators emphasized. “Reporting avalanches near ski resort boundaries is very important for rescue operations.”
The avalanche rating for the day was ‘moderate’, with the UAC warning, “The avalanche danger is MODERATE on W-N-E facing slopes above 9500′ where the wind has drifted new, dense snow into slabs. These avalanches have the potential to run far and fast on the slick crust below.”
Persistent weak layers remain a key concern in the Wasatch backcountry this week. The UAC continues to warn skiers and snowboarders that crossing closure ropes or traveling beyond ski area boundaries constitutes entering unmanaged terrain where avalanches can be easily triggered. Utah consistently leads the nation in avalanche fatalities involving individuals who left ski areas and failed to return.
Brighton Avalanche Photos
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