Three Brigham Young University students were rescued near Hidden Lakes in Provo Canyon Saturday afternoon after they strayed from the Aspen Grove trail on Friday and spent the night on the mountain.
Utah County search-and-rescue teams were dispatched Saturday morning after the three students -- a 19-year-old woman and 20- and 23-year-old men -- contacted authorities to report being lost, said Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Tom Hodgson.
The three told rescuers they had set out from the Aspen Grove trailhead around 6 p.m. and planned to spend the night at Emerald Lake Shelter, Hodgson said. They couldn't find the shelter when they arrived near the top of the trail and decided to hike back down the mountain, he said.
The woman became hypothermic during the descent and began going into shock. The group found a grove of trees to huddle in to try to stay warm throughout the night, Hodgson said. In the morning, the 20-year-old man left his hiking companions to go seek help.
Utah County rescuers began looking for the group in the morning and discovered them near Hidden Lakes around noon, Hodgson said. The woman was treated for dehydration. He said once she ate and warmed up, she was able to leave the mountain on her own.
The 23-year-old was also able to walk down the mountain, but suffered frostbite on his feet, Hodgson said. All three had been cleared off the mountain by 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
He said the rescue serves as a reminder that hikers should always know their destination and bring proper gear along for cold weather.
"One of the individuals admitted they were not prepared at all. They hadn't been up there in the winter time. They weren't quite sure when they got up on top where the hut was at and that added to their problems," Hodgson said.
"[People] need to know their destination and how to get to it. They need to be prepared to spend the night on the mountain," he said.
He noted the area where the three were lost poses extreme avalanche danger. As temperatures continue to rise, the avalanche danger will likely continue, he said.
