Observer Name
The Snowy Torrents
Observation Date
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Avalanche Date
Thursday, February 21, 1985
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch » Patsy Marly
Location Name or Route
Patsy Marley
Elevation
10,400'
Aspect
Southwest
Slope Angle
40°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Depth
2'
Width
150'
Vertical
1,250'
Caught
1
Carried
1
Buried - Fully
1
Accident and Rescue Summary
This was a solo backcountry skier that was recovered by the Alta Ski Patrol with a beacon (Howie and Piney were first on scene via snowmobile) on the summer road.
Comments
“The Snowy Torrents are like the Deep Sea: They seldom return their victims alive”
Narrative provided by The Snowy Torrents, courtesy of the American Avalanche Association. More information here: https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/store
Atkins, Dale; Logan Nick (1996) The Snowy Torrents: Avalanche Accidents in the United States, 1980-86. Colorado Geological Society, Colorado Avalanche Information Center
Avalanche File
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 1985.02.21 Patsy Page 1.pdf | 66.42 KB |
| 1985.02.21 Patsy Page 2.pdf | 64.9 KB |
| 1985.02.21 Patsy Page 3.pdf | 1.21 MB |
| 1985.02.22 Provo Daily Herald.pdf | 88.2 KB |
| 1985.02.21 Salt Lake Tribune1.pdf | 229.08 KB |
| 1985.02.21 Salt Lake Tribune2.pdf | 91.18 KB |
| 1985.02.22 Pow Mow Fatality News3.pdf | 174.61 KB |
Coordinates
