Man skiing alone on Utah trail injured, partially buried in avalanche, officials say

HOLLADAY, Utah (KUTV) — Search and rescue teams were called to the scene of an avalanche at Neffs Canyon in Utah Wednesday afternoon where a backcountry skier was partially buried, authorities said.

Sgt. Melody Cutler with the Unified Police Department said the 35-year-old man was skiing the Thomas Fork area when a 200-foot-wide avalanche was triggered, burying him up to his chest. The man was apparently skiing alone, and no one was there to witness or report the incident.

Authorities didn't confirm whether he was equipped with any avalanche gear.

The skier sustained several injuries in the slide, including a broken leg and an arm injury. He was unable to free himself, Cutler said, and he began yelling for help. After approximately 45 minutes, a Unified Fire Authority EMT who happened to be in the area heard the man's cries.

The EMT contacted search and rescue teams while he proceeded to help get the man out of the snow, Cutler said. There were concerns about possible hypothermia, but police weren't immediately able to confirm if the skier was showing signs or symptoms.

Crews were facing an approximately 2.5-mile journey from the roadway to the victim's location through the snowy terrain, risking the possibility of triggering another avalanche to reach the skier's location.

The victim's identity hasn't been released. His skill level was unknown Wednesday afternoon.

The Utah Avalanche Center had a considerable danger rating in place for northwest- and east-facing slopes "where natural and human-triggered avalanches may break 1 - 4 feet deep and 200 feet wide," according to its daily forecast.

Wednesday's incident comes a day after two skiers were trapped after triggering an avalanche in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

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