A juvenile girl estimated to be 10–13 years old died after being caught in a backcountry avalanche near Brighton in Salt Lake County. Rescuers located her along the slide path, provided first aid and transported her to a local hospital, where she later died. Officials said she was not wearing an avalanche beacon and drones were used in the search. Avalanche warnings remain in effect across multiple Utah mountain regions.
Young Girl Killed in Utah Backcountry Avalanche Near Brighton; Authorities Warn of Unstable Snow
An avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon near Brighton, Utah, in 2023. (James Roh / The Washington Post via Getty Images)(James Roh)
A juvenile girl, estimated to be 10 to 13 years old, died after being caught in a backcountry avalanche in Salt Lake County on Thursday, authorities said.
Brighton Ski Patrol, Wasatch Backcountry Rescue and the Wasatch County Sheriff's Office responded to the slide at about 12:49 p.m. The avalanche occurred near — but outside the maintained boundaries of — Brighton Ski Resort, in the mountains east of Salt Lake City.
"Rescuers located a juvenile female along the slide path and immediately provided first aid," officials said. The girl was transported by ambulance to a local hospital in critical condition and later died, a spokesperson for the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake confirmed. Authorities did not release her identity.
Family members were present during the incident; two relatives searched for the girl and responders deployed drones to assist the search. Officials said the girl was not wearing an avalanche beacon.
Response and Warnings
Ski-patrol staff from Brighton Resort and teams from Wasatch Backcountry Rescue were among the first on scene and led the search-and-rescue efforts. Brighton Resort reminded guests that out-of-bounds terrain is not maintained, controlled, or patrolled by the resort and can present significant avalanche danger.
"The conditions are ever changing with the unpredictable snowpack. This incident is a reminder that avalanches can happen in an instant," Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said, offering condolences to the victim's family and thanking responding agencies.
The Utah Avalanche Center, in a message relayed by the National Weather Service, warned that recent heavy snow and high winds have created unstable snow on certain elevations and slopes east of Salt Lake City. An avalanche warning remained in effect for the mountains of northern, central, southwestern and southeastern Utah through early Friday morning.
Context
The fatal avalanche follows recent deadly slides in the region, including a Wednesday avalanche in Wasatch County that killed a man who was snowmobiling, and a separate backcountry avalanche near Lake Tahoe that left multiple people dead. Officials continue to urge caution for anyone traveling in backcountry or out-of-bounds terrain.
Safety Reminder
Authorities and rescue teams emphasize carrying proper avalanche safety equipment (beacon, probe, shovel), checking avalanche forecasts before travel, and staying within controlled resort boundaries unless properly trained and equipped.
Help us improve.
