A person became trapped by an avalanche in a canyon west of Utah Lake Monday, and search and rescue crews recovered his body under more than 22 feet of snow following hours of searching.
The avalanche occurred in Pole Canyon near Lewiston Peak, located near the town of Cedar Fort.
Sgt. Spencer Cannon with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office said the victim, a 38-year-old man, was snowmobiling with a friend and going from the Tooele County side of the mountain to the Utah County side.
That’s when the two men got caught in what officials said was a large avalanche near Pole Canyon. One man made it out after the slide and was able to call for help, prompting a search.
The two men had beacons, which transmit and receive signals to help find buried individuals in cases like this. The friend also had a probe and shovel to help find the missing skier.
At 8:30 p.m., Cannon said they were working to find his exact location. Search and rescue team members were transported up the mountain via helicopter.
On Tuesday morning, officials told FOX 13 News that the body of the man had been recovered and his remains were taken to the office of the state medical examiner late Monday night.
The man was buried in more than 22 feet of snow, Cannon reported.
Further details on how the man was caught and how he was recovered were not immediately released, although Cannon said those details would be made available later.
The cause of the avalanche has yet to be determined.
Officials explain that as tragic as the outcome is, it could have been much worse as the two individuals who were trapped were part of a larger group of five men who were snowmobiling in the area.
Three of the men left the area shortly before the avalanche occurred.
This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aim to inform readers across the state.