Motorcyclist found dead in Maple Canyon after difficult weather
May 9, 2022, 5:16 PM | Updated: 5:17 pm
Weather conditions that halted the search for a missing motorcyclist in Maple Canyon. Photo credit: Utah County Search and Rescue
MAPLE CANYON, Utah — Utah County Search and Rescue has recovered the body of a man reported missing by his family on Sunday night.
A call came in from a worried family
Utah County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue began searching on Sunday for a 65-year-old man who had reportedly ridden his motorcycle up Maple Canyon.
Sgt. Spencer Cannon said that the motorcyclist last contacted his family at around 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Cannon said the man’s motorcycle had gotten stuck in the snow and he contacted family for help. After this, family members went to meet him but were unable to get ahold of him, so they called dispatch.
Weather conditions in Maple Canyon
@UCSO_SAR responded about 9:40 PM Sunday to find a 65 year old man who rode his motorcycle up Maple Canyon, east of Mapleton, around 2:00 PM yesterday. Motorcycle found at 8,200’ elevation but he has not been found yet. Near whiteout conditions preventing air support. pic.twitter.com/BgThj69YbH
— Utah County Sheriff (@UCSO) May 9, 2022
“Weather was a problem last night so we couldn’t get any aircraft up to help in the search from the air,” Cannon said.
“We did have search and rescue team members who hiked up the mountain and they found the motorcycle and found some of the equipment you would expect to see with the motorcycle but couldn’t find him.”
Cannon said the Search and Rescue team took a break for a few hours in the early morning. He said “near whiteout conditions” forced them off the mountain. Other factors that made this a tricky operation, Cannon said, were difficult terrain and difficult weather.
Image of the location where Utah County Search and Rescue found the body of a missing motorcyclist. Image provided by Utah County Search and Rescue
Other contributing factors were that the man’s cellphone had died and he had a medical condition.
@UTNationalGuard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and crew members on the scene working with @UCSO Search and Rescue and @UtahDPS searching for missing motorcyclist near Mapleton Canyon.#Alwaysthere pic.twitter.com/dnvuMvrOKx
— Utah National Guard (@UTNationalGuard) May 9, 2022
An investigation continues into the manner of death, but officials say they don’t suspect foul play.
