MILLCREEK, Utah – Four skiers are dead after an avalanche in Millcreek Canyon.
The united police said they received a “weak” emergency call around 11:40 am Saturday. Despite poor cell phone reception in the area, they were able to determine that the slide was taking place in the Wilson Glade area of Wilson Fork. It is also near Alexander Basin and Gobblers Knob.
UPD later confirmed that four of the skiers were dead and four others were alive. All eight had avalanche beacons.
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The survivors’ medical status was not immediately available, but officials say they were able to excavate themselves. The surviving skiers were also able to locate and excavate the other four, but they were already dead.
Search and rescue teams from various agencies are working to recover the bodies in a way that does not further endanger the crew of getting into another avalanche.
The names of the victims have not yet been released.
“We are heartbroken over the tragic news of four fatalities from an avalanche in the Millcreek Canyon area this afternoon,” Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson wrote in a statement. “We deeply mourn the loss of life as a result of this devastating incident.”
The incident marks the first deadly avalanche in Salt Lake County this winter season. Last month, there were two more in the backcountry of Park City: A. skier in the Square Top area and a snowboarder in Dutch Draw, respectively.
Gov. Spencer Cox also issued a statement, writing on Twitter:
- “This is a terrible tragedy and our prayers go out to the victims and families involved. We are grateful to the first responders and others involved in this rescue and recovery effort. Now that the avalanche danger is high, you must be extremely careful. “
The Utah Avalanche Center reports that an avalanche was caused remotely in the same general area the day before. Nobody was caught up in it.
This is a story in development and will be updated as more information becomes available.