Rescue teams saved a father and his 12-year-old son on Monday, December 30, after they skied out of bounds at Beaver Mountain, Utah. The pair got lost near Preston Hollow after leaving the resort boundary.
A satellite text to 911 alerted officials just before 4 p.m. Beaver Mountain Ski Patrol began the search but requested backup as night approached. Cache County Sheriff’s Deputies and a search and rescue team joined the effort.
“The dark that comes with the nighttime conditions in the backcountry presents its own unique challenges and dangers which must be faced by searchers and the lost alike.”
– Sheriff’s Office press release
Rescuers found the duo “warm, dry, and doing okay.” The father and son skied to Franklin Basin Road guided by the search team, who drove them to the mountain’s parking lot.
Avalanche danger is currently high in the Bear River Range, and Beaver Mountain has seen two feet of snow in the last five days.
“The avalanche danger is HIGH in the backcountry. Very heavy snowfall and drifting by strong winds overloaded slopes with pre-existing weak snow. Large and dangerous natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely, especially on northerly-facing slopes at mid and upper-elevations.
Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist, and people should avoid being on or beneath drifted slopes steeper than 30°. Stay well clear of obvious and historic avalanche paths and runout zones.”
– Yesterday’s avalanche forecast for the Bear River Range
Officials reminded skiers to stay within resort boundaries. The sheriff’s office thanked all involved in the successful rescue operation.
Beaver Mountain, a family-owned ski resort in northern Utah, offers 828 skiable acres. The mountain features 48 runs, catering to various skill levels, with 35% beginner, 40% intermediate, and 25% advanced trails. It has a vertical drop of 1,600 feet, with the base elevation at 7,200 feet and the summit reaching 8,860 feet. The resort is serviced by six lifts, including four fixed-grip chairlifts and two surface conveyors. With an average annual snowfall of over 400 inches, the resort relies entirely on natural snow, typically operating from mid-December to early April.
