The weather hindered efforts early on, and two of the four men suffered leg injuries.
(Photo courtesy of Utah County Sgt. Spencer Cannon) Team members from Utah County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Utah Public Safety, and Utah Avalanche Center team members work to bring down injured inland skiers and their party from the area on Sunday. Pfeifferhorn above Alpine and Little Cottonwood Canyon. Wind and clouds delayed the whole day.
Four men, all in their mid-20s, were rescued on Sunday night after being entangled in an avalanche while skiing on Sunday, officials say. Two of the men had injuries requiring medical attention – one with a knee injury, the other with a possible broken leg, Utah County Sgt. Spencer Cannon said.
No one was buried in the avalanche, which Cannon said happened in the area of Pfeifferhorn Peak above Alpine and Little Cottonwood Canyon, on the south side.
Rescue efforts were initially hampered by high winds and extreme avalanche warning, forcing rescuers to draw up an emergency plan to send the skiers an overnight package. Stocks had already been shipped once before.
But the weather improved, allowing the two seriously injured men to be sent for treatment. The other two men sustained minor injuries and were evicted from the area.
“Everyone is off the mountain and we are all happy about that, because we were not sure if we could achieve that. [Sunday], ‘Cannon said.
Cannon said two of the victims had been rescued from the mountain, including one taken by Lone Peak Ambulance to the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. Cannon said the other skier was off the mountain, but could not confirm whether he had been taken to the hospital. Cannon said a helicopter was returning to Provo to refuel, but that the hope was that upon return it would come in favorable conditions and try to lift the other skiers and rescue team members.
Current avalanche danger along the Wasatch Front ranges from low in Ogden and Logan to moderate in Salt Lake City and Provo, according to the Utah Avalanche Center.