4 skiers caught in Utah County avalanche

A hiker hikes the Pfeifferhorn in Little Cottonwood Canyon in this undated file photo. An avalanche occurred Sunday near Pfeifferhorn Peak above Alpine and Little Cottonwood Canyon. Two people were injured. | Shawn Kenney

ALPINE — Four skiers were caught in an avalanche in the high peaks near the border of Salt Lake and Utah counties on Sunday.

The slide happened just after 11 a.m. on the south side of Pfeifferhorn Peak, also known as Little Matterhorn, above Alpine. It carried the four skiers, none of whom were buried, said Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Cannon.

Preliminary information: Avalanche accident near Pfeifferhorn Peak. 3-4 people involved. Partial burials, potential injuries.
Utah and Salt Lake County search and rescue teams are responding - as well as Lifeflight and DPS.

— UtahAvalancheCenter (@UACwasatch) March 14, 2021

“A couple of people were injured,” he said, adding that one of the skiers may have injured a knee and another may have a broken leg.

Rescuers had yet to reach the skiers on the mountain and likely wouldn’t for hours, Cannon said.

Utah Department of Public Safety and LifeFlight helicopters are assisting with the rescue efforts and Cannon said it will be quicker if the helicopters can reach the victims before the team that is hiking in to the area. High winds could be an issue for the helicopters, he said.

“If it has to be done on foot, they could be there late into the night,” Cannon said.

The peak is the fifth-highest in the Wasatch Mountain range, reaching 11,362 feet in elevation. It is named for Charles Pfeiffer, a former president of the Wasatch Mountain Club who helped popularize skiing in the area. His ashes were spread on the mountain by his friends in 1939.

This story will be updated.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3tcyQIa