Skier dies after falling off cliff near Snowbasin Resort
Photo supplied, Snowbasin Resort
This undated photo shows the site of the future DeMoisy Express lift, which will drop riders in a wind-protected area above Dan's Run at Snowbasin Resort.WEBER COUNTY — A man is dead after an accident near Huntsville’s Snowbasin Resort on Monday, according to a statement from the resort.
Per the release, the skier had left the resort’s boundaries to access out-of-bounds terrain. The man, who hasn’t been publicly identified, was later found unconscious just inside the resort’s property as a result of the accident.
Snowbasin Ski Patrol arrived on the scene first, providing emergency medical aid and awaiting helicopter transport for the individual, who was a guest at the resort. Crews from the Weber Fire District and the Weber County Sheriff’s Office also participated in the rescue effort.
Weber Fire District Battalion Chief Casey Naef told the Standard-Examiner that the accident was reported to the agency at around 1:30 p.m. Monday.
“We made patient contact, stabilized the patient and helped the medical crew off the helicopter and getting packaged for transport,” Naef told the Standard-Examiner.
The skier was taken to a local hospital in extremely critical condition before reportedly dying due to his injuries. According to a KSL report, the man had fallen from a 100-foot cliff while exploring the backcountry near the resort before being found on the John Paul ski run.
According to Naef, the agency receives “a few calls per day” on ski accidents at local resorts during winter months. He further noted that the extreme nature of the terrain can make it difficult to coordinate rescue efforts.
“Being on the mountain, trying to get coordinates for the helicopter, and then communicating with ski patrol and the helicopter and fire crews — just getting everybody on the same page — is a little bit difficult, but we managed,” Naef said.
The resort acknowledged those who were involved in and/or affected by the incident in its statement.
“Snowbasin regrets to report that a guest passed away following an accident exploring extreme backcountry terrain on Monday, February 12,” the statement read, in part. “We offer our deepest condolences to the guest’s family, friends and all involved.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the name of the Weber Fire District official who spoke to the Standard-Examiner.