Two employees of Beaver Mountain Ski Resort were rescued near Peterson Hollow south of the Idaho/Utah border just before midnight Tuesday, after multiple rescue teams spent hours combing the mountain trying to find them.
According to the Cache County Sheriff’s Office, Luke Stevenson and Allison Huish went skiing earlier in the day, with plans to be back to the lodge by 4 p.m. when one of them was scheduled to work.
“The two skiers had gone on the back side of Beaver Mountain and found themselves in a difficult position to continue down or go back up the mountain,” Lt. Brian Locke said.
When they realized they were unable to get out of the area they were in, Locke said they started a fire and waited it out until they were found at about 11:45 p.m.
When the pair did not return as scheduled, the Ski Patrol went out looking for them within the ski resort perimeter. The Cache County Sheriff’s Office was notified about an hour later and rescue teams were paged out to expand the search into Franklin Basin.
The official search began just before 7 p.m. with multiple teams going out in several directions in a coordinated search effort, with no sign of the skiers to be found.
Avalanche conditions have been dangerous this winter and a light snow was falling as they searched, although Locke said the worst of the storm had not arrived yet.
As the midnight hour approached, rescuers on the ridges around Peterson Hollow were discussing their ability to search down in the bowl without triggering an avalanche when the Ski Patrol reported they may have heard some shouts for help.
That led to the discovery of the two skiers, who were in good condition when they were found.
Locke said the Ski Patrol contacted the command center and rescue teams were able to get snowmobiles into the area and get the skiers down to the road where the Snow Cat was able to bring them back to safety, a process wasn’t wrapped up until 3:30 a.m.
“We are grateful to the Ski Patrol for their phenomenal work in locating the skiers, Search and Rescue, and many others for their coordinated search efforts in finding and rescuing the individuals,” the Sheriff’s Office stated Wednesday.
Sgt. Paul Todd, who oversees the Search and Rescue, said anyone traveling into the backcountry should bring proper equipment, food, water and avalanche beacons. And, he said, let people know where you are going and what time you will be back.
