Tragic information out of Utah the place a skier was discovered lifeless Saturday after being caught in an avalanche the day earlier than within the Uinta Mountains.
In keeping with The Summit County Sheriff’s Workplace, they acquired a report Friday night of 51-year-old man from Summit County who didn’t return house at his anticipate time after going backcountry snowboarding by himself close to Hoyt Peak. Search and rescue had been dispatched to the scene Friday evening however had been pressured to pause search operations because of harmful situations. The search was resumed Saturday morning. The lacking skier was discovered lifeless round 11:00am.
Our ideas are with the sufferer’s household and pals. Learn the Summit County Sheriff’s Workplace (SCSO) official assertion and Utah Avalanche Heart report beneath.
Summit County Sheriff’s Workplace Assertion:
At roughly 5:00 PM on March 7, 2025, the Summit County Sheriff’s Workplace (SCSO) acquired a report of an grownup male skier who had not returned house as anticipated. The person was believed to have been snowboarding alone within the backcountry space close to Hoyt Peak, situated northeast of Kamas Metropolis.
Search and Rescue (SAR) sources had been instantly deployed and initiated a coordinated search. Attributable to hazardous and ineffective looking situations, SAR commanders made the choice to quickly droop the search late on March 7, with plans to renew operations at dawn. Search efforts resumed at first mild on March 8.
In the course of the preliminary search, SAR groups recognized an space the place an avalanche had just lately occurred. It was unclear at the moment whether or not the overdue skier had been concerned within the avalanche. Attributable to extraordinarily hazardous situations, further sources had been requested to help with avalanche mitigation, permitting searchers to function safely and successfully.
Tragically, at 10:49 AM on March 8, the overdue skier was discovered deceased. It was decided that the person had been caught within the avalanche. The sufferer has been recognized as a 51-year-old male from Summit County.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Workplace extends its deepest condolences to the household of the sufferer. We ask that the media respect the privateness of the sufferer’s household and pals as they course of this tragic loss.
The SCSO extends its gratitude to Park Metropolis Mountain Snow Specialists, Park Metropolis Mountain RECCO, the Division of Public Security Aero Bureau, the Utah Avalanche Heart, and the Wasatch Backcountry Rescue Staff for his or her invaluable help within the search and restoration efforts.
Utah Avalanche Heart Accident Report:
Observer Identify: Craig Gordon/Andy Nassetta
Commentary Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025
Avalanche Date: Friday, March 7, 2025
Area: Uintas » Hoyt Peak
Location Identify or Route: Hoyt Peak/NE Bowl
Elevation: 10,200′
Side: Northeast
Slope Angle: 43°
Set off: Skier
Set off: Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Sort: Laborious Slab
Avalanche Downside: Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer: Sides
Depth: 3.5′
Width: 150′
Vertical: 1,000′
Caught: 1
Carried: 1
Buried – Totally: 1
Killed: 1
Accident and Rescue Abstract
At roughly 5:00 PM on March 7, 2025, the Summit County Sheriff’s Workplace (SCSO) acquired a report of an grownup male skier who had not returned house as anticipated.
The person was believed to have been snowboarding alone within the backcountry space close to Hoyt Peak, situated northeast of Kamas Metropolis.
Search and Rescue (SAR) sources had been instantly deployed and initiated a coordinated search. Attributable to hazardous and ineffective looking situations, SAR commanders made the choice to quickly droop the search late on March 7, with plans to renew operations at dawn. Search efforts resumed at first mild on March 8.
In the course of the preliminary search, SAR groups recognized an space the place an avalanche had just lately occurred. It was unclear at the moment whether or not the overdue skier had been concerned within the avalanche. Attributable to extraordinarily hazardous situations, further sources had been requested to help with avalanche mitigation, permitting searchers to function safely and successfully.
Tragically, at 10:49 AM on March 8, the overdue skier was discovered deceased. It was decided the particular person concerned within the accident was 51 yr previous, Micheal Janulaitis from Marion, Utah. Micheal used a snowbike to entry the terrain, however was caught, carried, and killed in an avalanche whereas snowboarding a steep, northeast dealing with run in Hoyt Bowl.
Terrain Abstract
Measuring 43 levels in slope steepness, that is unforgiving, difficult, treed terrain
Wanting downslope from close to the crown with rescuers on the burial web site.
Climate Situations and Historical past
February began off gradual with two small storm delivering barely an inch of SWE. Nevertheless, the mid month Valentine’s storm received issues rolling with robust winds, 36″ of dense heavy snow, and practically 4″ of SWE. Above is an information run from close by Beaver Divide sno-tel web site.
Feedback
Large due to the Division of Public Security, Park Metropolis Mountain Resort and Canyons Village Snow Security and Ski Patrol groups, together with Wasatch Backcountry Rescue for the laborious work recovering Micheal and returning him to his household. Micheal was a pal of Utah Avy and we really feel privileged for the time we received to spend collectively. It is a large loss for our backcountry household and we’ll miss him deeply.
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