Updated: Park City woman dies in Big Cottonwood Canyon climbing accident

Goodro’s Wall Photo: Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue

Update: Salt Lake County SAR was called out around 7 p.m. on May 12 for two injured rock climbers in Big Cottonwood Canyon. A party of two was climbing Goodro’s Wall in Storm Mountain when a large rock on the route gave way. The rock fall seriously injured one climber and killed the other. Salt Lake County SAR responded along with Unified Fire, Unified Police, AirMed, and DPS.

Due to the location of the patients, a technical lowering system was set up and the surviving patient was brought down to the parking lot and flown by AirMed to the hospital.

Goodro’s is a well-traveled route that was first climbed over 70 years ago. Due to the wet, cool winter and spring this season, people need to be hyper-aware of the potential of loose rock, even in well-traveled areas. Along with this risk, we will see snow on the trails well into the summer and cold fast, flowing creeks.

A GoFundMe has been created to support Scotty Hogg with his extensive medical treatments. Hogg’s late-girlfriend Kaitlyn Brann passed away due to her injuries.

Original:

BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah – A 34-year-old Park City woman was killed and her climbing partner seriously injured in a climbing accident Friday evening.

The accident occurred in the Storm Mountain area of Big Cottonwood Canyon. ABC4 reported that a call came in around 7 p.m. Friday from someone who reportedly witnessed the two climbers fall, but could not get to where they had fallen. Search and Rescue was deployed and through the use of a drone were able to locate the individuals.

The victim has been identified as Kaitlyn Brann, of Park City who passed away on scene. Her climbing partner, a 30-year-old male, was transported by LifeFlight to an area hospital. At this time he is expected to survive.

Detective Aymee Race, Unified Police Department, told Gephard Daily The distance the climbers fell is not yet known, Race said. The climbers were experienced, “had proper equipment, and were very well prepared for the elements,” she said.

“It’s just a very dangerous time to be climbing because the water can cause significant shift to the rocks.”