This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Three backcountry skiers had a close call late Monday morning with an avalanche in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal said the three men were skiing at 11:26 a.m. when the slide, of undetermined size, broke loose. One of the men was briefly buried and suffered a strained shoulder before his friends dug him out.

Bruce Tremper of the Utah Avalanche Center tweeted that the slide was on south face of Mt. Superior in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Hoyal said the three were able to ski down the mountain after calling 911, and Unified Fire Department paramedics arrived, examined and then released the trio.

The Utah Avalanche Center had rated the risk of dangerous snow slides in the mountains throughout the state on Monday at "moderate."

Twitter: @remims