SANDY, UT – Rescuers on Friday recovered the bodies of two backcountry skiers who were reported missing after an avalanche in the Lone Peak area of the Wasatch Range, southeast of Salt Lake City. The victims, aged 23 and 32, were caught in the avalanche on Thursday morning.
The area had recently received up to 2.5 feet of heavy, wet snow accompanied by strong winds due to storms over the past few days. According to Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera, the bodies of the two men were located on Friday morning by search teams. Sgt. Aymee Race with the Unified Police Salt Lake City reported that the victims were airlifted from the mountain and transferred to the medical examiner’s office.
On the day of the incident, three climbers were ascending a slope called Big Willow Aprons when one of them unintentionally triggered the avalanche, as per the Utah Avalanche Center’s report. One climber was swept downhill on the right side of the ridge and partially buried, while the other two were carried away on the left side of the ridge and completely buried.
The first climber managed to dig himself out and call for help, leading to his rescue on Thursday. However, weather conditions hindered the immediate recovery of the other two men. Family members of the victims were present at the search staging area near Sandy on Friday, added Rivera.
The avalanche center reported that the snow broke about 2 feet deep and 250 feet across, sliding down approximately 500 feet. Additionally, experienced climbers often scale its sheer granite walls during warmer months.