The weather hampered efforts prematurely and two of the four men sustained leg injuries.
(Courtesy photo by Sgt. Spencer Cannon of Utah County) Team members from Utah County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Utah Public Safety, and Utah Avalanche Center are working to remove injured skiers and their group from the Pfeifferhorn area via Alpine and Little on Sunday Bring Cottonwood Canyon. Wind and clouds caused delays throughout the day.
According to official information, four men in their mid-twenties were rescued on Sunday evening after falling into an avalanche while skiing on Sunday. Two of the men had injuries that required medical attention – one with a knee injury, the other with a possibly broken leg, Utah County Sgt. Spencer Cannon said.
Nobody was buried in the avalanche, which Cannon said took place in the Pfeifferhorn summit area above the Alpine and Little Cottonwood canyons on the south side.
Rescue efforts were initially hampered by strong winds and extreme avalanche warnings, which prompted rescuers to draw up an emergency plan to send the skiers an overnight package. Supplies had been shipped before.
However, the weather improved and the two seriously injured men were transported away for treatment. The other two men suffered minor injuries and were removed from the area.
“Everyone has left the mountain and we are all happy about it because we weren’t sure whether we would make it [Sunday]”Said Cannon.
Cannon said two of the victims had been rescued from the mountain, including one taken by Lone Peak Ambulance to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. Cannon said the other skier was away from the mountain but couldn’t confirm whether he had been rushed to the hospital. Cannon said a helicopter had returned to Provo for refueling but the hope was that when it returned it would encounter favorable conditions and attempt to lift the other skiers and members of the rescue team.
Current avalanche threats along the Wasatch Front range from low in Ogden and Logan to moderate in Salt Lake City and Provo, according to the Utah Avalanche Center.
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