Observer Name
UAC Staff
Observation Date
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Avalanche Date
Saturday, December 28, 2024
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Porter Fork » Main Porter
Location Name or Route
Porter Fork Pass - Preliminary Report
Elevation
9,300'
Aspect
Northwest
Trigger
Unknown
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Caught
1
Carried
1
Buried - Fully
1
Killed
1
Accident and Rescue Summary
This is a preliminary report.
Comments
Salt Lake County Search and Rescue received a missing person report when a family member did not show up as expected. SLCOSAR searched for the presumably lost person in the Porter Fork area out of Millcreek Canyon for two days but could not ascend into higher elevation terrain due to HIGH avalanche danger. On Monday evening, a good Samaritan found the person who appeared to have been buried in an avalanche just below Porter Fork Pass.
The person appears to have gone into the backcountry alone on Saturday, December 28 and was caught in the avalanche some time that afternoon. SLCOSAR and Lifeflight retrieved the body on Tuesday.
The UAC issued an AVALANCHE WARNING from Friday, 12/27, through Tuesday, 12/31, as an extended and powerful winter storm with heavy snowfall and strong winds hit the area.
The victim was a 38-year-old male from Quebec, Canada.
We'll post a more thorough report soon. As he was traveling alone, there may be many unanswered questions.
Coordinates