Bicyclists honor friend lost in deadly Millcreek Canyon avalanche
Feb 15, 2021, 10:00 AM
Kevin Gmitro speaks to friends, family and the public who gathered to remember Tom Steinbrecher and Louis Holian, at The Gear Room in Cottonwood Heights on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. The two skiers died in an avalanche recently in Millcreek Canyon. Photo: Annie Barker, Deseret News
MILLCREEK, Utah — Bicyclists rode this weekend in memory of one of their own who died in an avalanche last week in Millcreek Canyon.
Louis Holian, 26, was one of four people killed in the slide. His friends say the avid cyclist, who worked at ‘Hanger 15’ in Millcreek, was friendly and well-known for his sense of humor.
“He would answer the phone, ‘Hangar 15, this is Ashley,’ and we get people calling for Ashley still,” said Mike Hanseen, who also works at the shop. “It was this bizarre, weird, funny humor, and that’s how Louis was all the time.”
“He touched hundreds of people,” Hanseen said. “He was a very good person.”
In memory of #LouisHolian and #TomSteinbrecher, they gathered in a ski and bike ride ending at @Hangar15Bicycle in Millcreek. Louis and Tom lost their lives in an avalanche that wiped out 8 skiers last weekend. 4 survived, 4 died. Story at 5 @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/ojztIGgSJx
— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) February 14, 2021
Friends rode from the Gear Room in Cottonwood Heights to Hanger 15 in Millcreek in Holian’s memory, a week after the avalanche that claimed his life.
Gifts, flowers and cards piled up all week in honor of Louis Holian around his bike at Hanger 15. Photo: KSL TV
Holian’s bike has become a memorial to him at the bike shop. All week, friends left flowers and gifts that piled up next to his bike.
“He actually bought that bike from me before he worked for me,” said Hanseen.
The Millcreek Canyon avalanche was Utah’s deadliest in nearly 30 years. Avalanche danger remains high with new snow arriving in Utah this week.
