Two missing skiers found dead after avalanche in Lone Peak Canyon

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KUTV) — Two skiers have died following an avalanche near Little Cottonwood Canyon on Thursday morning.

Their names were not immediately released, but officials said they were men aged 23 and 32. They added that one was a local resident and the other was from out of state.

Rescue crews responded to Lone Peak Canyon after a report that three people had been involved in an avalanche at around 10:30 a.m.

A Life Flight helicopter was seen bringing an individual off the mountain approximately two hours after authorities reported the skiers were missing.

Officials said the man, who was taken to a hospital in fair condition, had been able to dig himself out.

Two other people were still outstanding, and Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said Thursday afternoon that rescue crews were having difficulty reaching the area where they were located due to safety concerns.

MORE: Skier reports being carried nearly 300 feet after triggering avalanche in Big Cottonwood

Officials said at 2 p.m. that they would be conducting mitigation to make it safe for search members to reach the men.

The skiers' deaths were confirmed just after 3:30 p.m., but officials said a recovery attempt would not be made until Friday and depended on weather conditions.

Crews were also assisting from Unified Police Department, the US Forest Service and Wasatch Backcountry Rescue.

Rivera stressed that people who want to continue skiing at this time of year should understand the impact of the change in temperature and unpredictable weather conditions.

Based on information from the Utah Avalanche Center, there have been no other avalanche-related deaths recorded this late in the season. They also reported that the last fatal avalanche was on April 17 at Brighton.

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