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SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah – Rescue efforts for a skier who was buried in an avalanche on Saturday were called off until morning.
It happened shortly before 3:30 p.m. in the Square Top area, near the village of Park City Mountain Canyons, but not within the resort limits.
LAST WEEKEND: Sundance Mountain Resort temporarily closes due to avalanche
The victim’s friend, who was not caught in the slide, was able to dig up the victim and attempt to save lives.
However, the friend had to leave the area due to the extreme avalanche danger, according to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. This danger also prevented the county search and rescue team from reaching the area after dark.
They will resume the rescue effort Sunday morning with help from the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the individual is deceased.
“This is an ongoing operation and no further information regarding the avalanche victim will be given,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a press release. “Once we have contacted the victim, we will provide further details.”
The sheriff’s office also reminded those traveling to the backcountry to be extremely careful – to be prepared with the proper equipment, to avoid avalanche danger zones and to check conditions on Utah Avalanche Center (UAC). website.
UAC has warned of a high avalanche risk this weekend due to current conditions. There’s a weak, older base layer that can’t handle the newer, heavier pile of snow on top – making it a recipe for an avalanche crash, experts told FOX 13.
READ / WATCH: High avalanche risk in the Utah backcountry due to low snow cover
They advised anyone heading into the backcountry to avoid slopes of 30 degrees or more.
According to UAC, Square Top is the birthplace of a βfamous avalanche trail in the Canyons hinterland … [the] site of many accidents and deaths. “
Looks like an avalanche was seen in Square Top earlier this week.
βSquare has been a sleeping giant waiting for someone to come out and take a walk and today it finally happened. – @UACwasatch observation log. pic.twitter.com/2KvrcCNUXe
– ππ«π’ππ§ πππ‘π§ππ (@brian_schnee) January 30, 2021
There were dozens of avalanches in Utah during the 2020-2021 winter season, one of which was fatal.
This is a developing story. We will update this article as more information becomes available.
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