Accident: Tanners Gulch

Observer Name
MM
Observation Date
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Avalanche Date
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Tanners Gulch
Location Name or Route
Tanner’s Gulch
Elevation
11,000'
Aspect
Southwest
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Dry Loose
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Weak Layer
New Snow
Depth
Unknown
Width
Unknown
Vertical
1,000'
Caught
2
Carried
2
Buried - Partly
1
Accident and Rescue Summary
At 7:45am, two of three people booting up Tanners were hit by an avalanche cascading down from above. The slide probably started at 10,700' on an sw-facing slope. The three ascending were at 9500'. One managed to avoid the avalanche, two were caught and carried roughly 600'. One person was partially buried, the other ended on top of the debris. There were no significant injuries, just some bumps, bruises and lost gear. The party was able to self-evacuate.
Comments
Two of three in party caught and carried in a SW facing shot in Tanner's Gulch today while booting up. Loose, dry avalanche running unknown distance, but 1000' minimum as it barreled down on us and ran another 600-800'. Natural trigger, well above us, unknown width or depth. One of the two carried ended up on top and the other slightly below surface, but able to self rescue. Bruised and banged up, lost a few pieces of gear, snapped a board, but no serious injuries. Both carried several hundred feet. Chute showed signs of already flushing a time or two during storm cycle, with 2-12" of new snow on bed surface. Several possibilities of what triggered this, but no definitive answer.
Coordinates