Overdue skier found dead after hours of search and rescue efforts

LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON, UTAH — An overdue skier was found dead in the area of Grizzly Gulch.  Search and rescue efforts picked continued Thursday morning after crews couldn’t find an overdue skier Wednesday night. 

Around 6:40 a.m. on Thursday Alta Ski Area announced that Grizzly Gulch was closed to the public for search and rescue efforts. A statement explained that a skier was overdue and search and rescue efforts from the night before were unsuccessful.

Crews are looking for an Overdue skier. Didn’t find him last night and are searching for him again this morning.

Grizzly Gulch is currently closed due to search and rescue efforts ⛑@UACwasatch @WasatchBCAlli @UDOTcottonwoods pic.twitter.com/5wvnMMrb9z

— Alta Ski Area (@AltaSkiArea) January 20, 2022

KSL TV’s Derek Peterson and Matt Rascon reported to the scene where search and rescue efforts continued from 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night.

Around 9 a.m., many hours after the skier was expected to return, and a night in the snow, Unified Police reported he was found. 

Now @UPDSL tell us the overdue skier has been located. Now #SAR working to get the person out… pic.twitter.com/XWUMBbdleP

— Derek Petersen (@Derek_Photog) January 20, 2022

A rescue chopper located the skier and dropped off crews on skies to retrieve him. 

#breaking: @UPDSL tell me the chopper found someone in the last few minutes. Just dropped off rescue crews on skis to get to him. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/IXnFaaKbIq

— Matt Rascon (@MattRasconNews) January 20, 2022

Rascon reported from the scene. Just before 10 a.m., crews reached the skier and found he had died. They are working to bring him back down the mountain.

Very sad update…This has turned into a recovery effort. Crews reached the missing skier and found he had died. They are working to bring him down the mountain. Said it’s possible there was a small slide but circumstances still under investigation. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/nnZL91Is2J

— Matt Rascon (@MattRasconNews) January 20, 2022

Rascon reported the man was an experienced backcountry skier. He headed up Grizzly Gulch on Wednesday and told coworkers he would check in around 3:00 p.m. He didn’t check in.

Unified police were informed of the situation later in the evening and search and rescue efforts commenced at 9 p.m. They ended their search around 1 a.m. and picked back up this morning at 8:30 a.m.

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