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2026-03-04

Utah Avalanche Center Releases Final Report on Brighton Avalanche That Killed 11-Year-Old Skier




The Utah Avalanche Center has released its final report on the February 19 avalanche near Brighton Resort that killed an 11-year-old girl after she exited the ski area boundary into backcountry terrain. The avalanche occurred just after noon in Mary Main Bowl, part of the Lake Mary Chutes area in the backcountry west of Brighton in Big Cottonwood Canyon. According to the report, the young skier was traveling with her father and sibling when they left the resort boundary near the Crest Express lift.



Related: Avalanche Near Kootenay Pass, BC, Kills 23-Year-Old Snowmobiler



The victim was skiing slightly ahead of her family members and had traversed along the apron above Rock Garden toward Mary Main Bowl when witnesses on the ridge above reported seeing an avalanche break above her. She was caught, carried more than 200 vertical feet, and fully buried near the bottom of the debris. The slide occurred on a northeast-facing slope at approximately 9,300 feet with slope angles around 37 degrees.

Bystanders immediately called Brighton Ski Patrol and 911 after witnessing the avalanche. The family did not have avalanche rescue equipment, and a family member attempted to narrow the search area using a phone location service while others began looking for the victim.

Brighton Ski Patrol arrived and deployed an avalanche rescue dog, which located the girl about four feet beneath the snow surface after roughly 17 minutes of burial. Ski patrollers performed CPR for approximately 30 minutes. A rescue helicopter was called but could not land due to poor weather, and the victim was transported by ground ambulance for further medical care.

Despite rescue efforts, she did not survive.

Avalanche Details

The avalanche was classified as a soft slab with a persistent weak layer problem, measuring roughly 2.5 feet deep, about 500 to 550 feet wide, and running approximately 300 vertical feet.

The slide began on a mid-storm graupel layer before stepping down to deeper faceted snow that formed during a dry January period, allowing the avalanche to propagate widely across the slope.

Investigators noted that the avalanche released in thinner, rocky terrain above the skier and spread across the entire apron of Mary Main Bowl—something veteran Brighton Ski Patrol members said they could not recall seeing in recent memory.



Snowpack and Weather Conditions

The accident occurred during a major storm cycle in the Central Wasatch. After a prolonged dry spell beginning January 9, weak faceted snow developed in the snowpack. A series of storms beginning February 11 added new snow but did not immediately create widespread avalanche activity.

Conditions changed dramatically when a stronger storm arrived February 17-18. By the morning of February 19, the day of the accident, the upper Cottonwood Canyons had received close to 50 inches of snow containing roughly 4.7 inches of snow water equivalent. The Utah Avalanche Center had issued an Avalanche Watch on February 16, which was escalated to an Avalanche Warning on February 18 as danger rose to HIGH.

Forecasters warned that rapid loading on top of the persistent weak layer created a classic high-consequence avalanche scenario.

Terrain and Boundary Considerations

The avalanche occurred outside Brighton’s ski area boundary, past a rope line and signage stating “No avalanche control work beyond this point.”

Investigators believe the skier exited the resort boundary just uphill of the rope line before traversing into Mary Main Bowl.

The Utah Avalanche Center emphasized that terrain immediately outside ski area boundaries is backcountry terrain, even when located close to lifts or groomed runs.

The agency noted that Utah historically leads the nation in avalanche fatalities involving people who leave ski area boundaries.



“Anyone leaving a ski area boundary must treat the terrain they enter as backcountry,” the Utah Avalanche Center wrote in its report. “Check the avalanche forecast, carry a beacon, shovel, and probe, know how to use them, and travel with a partner.”



Community Response

The report also acknowledged the efforts of bystanders, Brighton Ski Patrol, and rescue teams who responded to the incident.

The Utah Avalanche Center and Brighton Ski Patrol extended condolences to the victim’s family and community.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victim’s family, friends, and all those in the community affected by her loss,” the report stated.



The post Utah Avalanche Center Releases Final Report on Brighton Avalanche That Killed 11-Year-Old Skier appeared first on SnowBrains.

Ссылка на источник: https://snowbrains.com/utah-avalanche-center-releases-final-report-on-brighton-avalanche-that-killed-11-year-old-skier/


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