This avalanche was spied by Brighton Snow Safety Malia Bowman and UAC forecaster Drew Hardesty Saturday early afternoon while investigating another skier triggered slide in HIdden Canyon (INFO) from Friday Jan 2. Very little is known about this avalanche so far, except that Malia and co-worker Max McNeil (patrol director) investigated the debris and found two burial holes, one with blood. It's possible that the two were caught, carried 500' and partially buried. The slide is estimated 2-4' deep and 200' wide, running 600' down the slope on a northwest facing slope at 10,500'.
When Max and Malia investigated the debris pile, they found two burial holes in the snow, with probe marks...indicating that at least one person was completely buried.
We hope to learn more information.
I was out with UAC forecaster Drew Hardesty investigating the avalanche that was reported yesterday (1/2/26). Found it, and continued to a better view point of the bowl to see if we could still see the crown from a different avalanche in the same area that happened on Wed 12/31. I noticed a large avalanche to the immediate lookers left of the 12/31 avalanche. A Brighton snow safety team went to inspect the site. We went in high to inspect the crown, but there is too much hang fire to safely come in from the top. Near the toe, we found obvious signs of 2 people involved, noting with probe holes and evidence of recovery and injury.
This avalanche was unreported. If anyone has any information about this incident, please reach out to Brighton patrol. YOU ARE NOT IN TROUBLE. Reporting avalanches near ski resort boundaries is very important for rescue operations.
