Avalanche — Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80, Utah
February 21, 2026 · NOAA Storm Events record
Event narrative (NOAA)
Two skiers left the Butler Fork trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon Saturday morning 2/21 with the plan to do a run known as The Triangle. This is in Butler Basin, a Big Cottonwood Canyon drainage east of Gobblers Knob. The skiers ascended a steep north-facing slope next to the desired run, when near the top an avalanche broke. Both skiers were caught and carried around 100 feet down the slope, becoming fully buried at the bottom. Other groups of skiers in the basin witnessed the avalanche occur, and notified 911, Alta Central, and began rescue efforts. Around 10 minutes after the avalanche, one of the bystanders made their way to the debris, conducted a beacon search, and eventually found a splitboard binding still attached. Additional bystanders arrived and helped uncover the first victim
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Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.