MILLCREEK, Utah – Four skiers died after an avalanche in Millcreek Canyon.
The Unified Police said it received a “weak” distress call around 11:40 am on Saturday. Despite poor cell phone reception in the area, they were able to determine that the landslide happened in the Wilson Glade area of Wilson Fork. Also nearby is Alexander Basin and Gobblers Knob.
READ: Utah avalanche meteorologists warn of the danger of the hinterland this weekend
Later, the UPD confirmed that four of the skiers were dead and four others alive. The survivors’ medical status was not immediately available. All eight skiers had avalanche headlights.
The names of the victims have not yet been released.
Utah Department of Public Safety helicopters, AirMed and LifeFlight assisted Salt Lake County search and rescue teams. The recovery effort for those who died is still underway.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released.
There have already been six avalanche deaths in Utah this winter. The first two were inside Park City: The skier in the Square Top area it is a snowboarder in the dutch draw, respectively.
The Utah Avalanche Center reports that an avalanche was triggered remotely in the same area just a day earlier. Nobody got caught in that.