Rescue crews in Salt Lake City, Utah are searching for two skiers who went missing after an avalanche rushed down Lone Peak on Thursday. The Associated Press reported that rescuers responded to the area just after 10 a.m. on Thursday after reports of an avalanche near Lone Peak in the Wasatch Range. Three skiers were originally reported missing, but one of them was able to dig himself out of the snow and was airlifted off the mountain to a nearby hospital. Due to the dangerous conditions on the mountain, crews were unable to search for the remaining two skiers and needed to do mitigation work for safety.
Sheriff Rosie Rivera could not confirm whether the other two skiers were buried during the snow slide. She also stated that the man who called for help was the skier who was rescued and that officers were interviewing him at the hospital to gather more information about the events that occurred. Despite efforts to search for the missing skiers, teams were unable to do so on Thursday due to worsening conditions. It was anticipated that search operations may have to be postponed until Friday when conditions were expected to improve.
Craig Gordon of the Utah Avalanche Center informed Fox 13 in Salt Lake City that the area had seen over 30 inches of snow and more than three inches of water over the last three days. These conditions have significantly increased the risk of avalanches occurring in the backcountry. The Associated Press contributed to the report on the ongoing search and rescue efforts for the missing skiers in the area.
The search for the missing skiers is still ongoing, but crews have been hindered by dangerous conditions on the mountain. The efforts to locate the skiers were initially hampered by the need for safety mitigation work to be done on the mountain. While one skier was rescued and taken to the hospital, the remaining two skiers are still missing, and it is unclear whether they were buried during the avalanche. However, it is believed that the skier who called for help was the one who was rescued, and authorities are interviewing him to gain further insight into the events that unfolded.
With over 30 inches of snow and over three inches of water in the last three days, the risk of avalanches in the backcountry has significantly increased. The Utah Avalanche Center has highlighted the dangers posed by these conditions, making search and rescue operations even more challenging. The sheriff has expressed hope of resuming search efforts once conditions improve, but it remains uncertain when crews will be able to access the mountain to continue the search for the missing skiers. The community and authorities are united in their efforts to locate the missing individuals and ensure their safety.
As the search for the missing skiers in Salt Lake City, Utah continues, the focus remains on the safety of rescue crews and the challenging conditions on Lone Peak in the Wasatch Range. Despite the efforts to search for the missing individuals, the dangerous snow slide has made it difficult to reach the remaining two skiers. With ongoing mitigation work and monitoring of the avalanche risks, the search and rescue mission is a complex and challenging operation. However, authorities are determined to persevere in their efforts to locate the missing skiers and bring them to safety.