Kurt Damschroder, 57, of Park City, Utah, was killed after being caught in the avalanche, Summit County Sheriff Justin Martinez said in a statement. tweet Domigo.
Damschroder was one of two skiers who triggered the avalanche in an area known as Square Top, outside the resort boundaries, near the Park City Mountain Canyons Village resort, the sheriff’s office said in a press release.
“Our hearts and prayers are with Kurt’s girlfriend and family,” Martinez said in the tweet.
The second skier was able to dig for Damschroder and “tried to save lives”, but was forced to leave due to dangerous conditions, according to the statement.
“The danger of an extreme avalanche prevented the rescue team from entering the area before nightfall,” said the sheriff’s office.
Summit County Search and Rescue worked with a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter in efforts to find the missing skier.
As snowstorms build up during the winter months, the snow’s consistency can change and become unstable and dangerous. Inland travelers are encouraged to analyze snow layers and test their stability before skiing or snowmobiling.
The sheriff’s office warned people to use “extreme caution” when entering the countryside, checking the avalanche conditions at the Utah Avalanche Center and using appropriate equipment when skiing.