The two men who were buried in an avalanche Thursday near Lone Peak in Little Cottonwood Canyon have been identified.
The victims are Andrew Cameron, 23, of Utah and Austin Mallet, 32, of Montana.
Cameron was a salesperson at The Ski Mountaineering Company in Cottonwood Heights, an employee there confirmed. Better known as SkiMoCo, it bills itself as “North America’s ski mountaineering shop.” Ski mountaineering emphasizes the uphill side of skiing as much as the downhill. It has gained attention in recent years due to its inclusion in the 2026 Olympics in Italy, but it is traditionally more of a recreational pursuit.
Mallet of Bozeman was days away from making a second attempt at climbing Denali, according to his social media posts. In his first attempt last year, he summited and skied Cassin Ridge and Messner Couloir, according to a blog post.
“Losing loved ones suddenly is always tragic,” Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said in a press release. “Our hearts are with the loved ones that Austin and Andrew left behind.”
Their deaths are the first two the Utah Avalanche Center has recorded in the month of May.
A third man, whom Rivera said is from Utah, survived the 500-foot slide through the Big Willow Aprons at an elevation of 10,600 feet. He was delivered to Hidden Valley Park in Draper early Thursday afternoon via a Flight For Life helicopter. He walked to an ambulance and was released from the hospital Thursday evening, according to a Unified Police Department spokesperson. The survivor has declined to be identified.
[Related: Photos of avalanche that killed 2 skiers released as bodies are recovered]
The trio began their trek at 5 a.m. Thursday from Hidden Valley Park, according to a UPD news release. They were about five hours into the ascent and boot-packing near the top of the cirque when a slab broke off and buried all three of them. The survivor, who was in the lead according to a Utah Avalanche Center report, was pushed to looker’s right of a sharp ridge through the center of the cirque. The other two were washed down the left side. According to the report and Search and Rescue accounts, the survivor was able to dig himself out and find his companions. However, they were already dead when he arrived.
According to reports, they were carrying shovels, beacons and probes and also were equipped with helmets.
“Mother nature can be unpredictable. It is uncommon to have avalanche-related deaths this late in the season,” Rivera said. “For the adventure enthusiasts in our community, be mindful of the weather and snow conditions as you explore canyons. For anyone seeking to enjoy the spring beauty of the canyons pay attention to both snow and runoff. We hope that everyone will enjoy the breathtaking beauty of our outdoor areas safely.”
