Tragic news out of Utah where a skier was found dead Saturday after being caught in an avalanche the day before in the Uinta Mountains.
According to The Summit County Sheriff’s Office, they received a report Friday evening of 51-year-old man from Summit County who did not return home at his expect time after going backcountry skiing by himself near Hoyt Peak. Search and rescue were dispatched to the scene Friday night but were forced to pause search operations due to dangerous conditions. The search was resumed Saturday morning. The missing skier was found dead around 11:00am.
Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends. Read the Summit County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) official statement and Utah Avalanche Center report below.
Summit County Sheriff’s Office Statement:
At approximately 5:00 PM on March 7, 2025, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) received a report of an adult male skier who had not returned home as expected. The individual was believed to have been skiing alone in the backcountry area near Hoyt Peak, located northeast of Kamas City.
Search and Rescue (SAR) resources were immediately deployed and initiated a coordinated search. Due to hazardous and ineffective searching conditions, SAR commanders made the decision to temporarily suspend the search late on March 7, with plans to resume operations at sunrise. Search efforts resumed at first light on March 8.
During the initial search, SAR teams identified an area where an avalanche had recently occurred. It was unclear at that time whether the overdue skier had been involved in the avalanche. Due to extremely hazardous conditions, additional resources were requested to assist with avalanche mitigation, allowing searchers to operate safely and effectively.
Tragically, at 10:49 AM on March 8, the overdue skier was found deceased. It was determined that the individual had been caught in the avalanche. The victim has been identified as a 51-year-old male from Summit County.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the family of the victim. We ask that the media respect the privacy of the victim’s family and friends as they process this tragic loss.
The SCSO extends its gratitude to Park City Mountain Snow Experts, Park City Mountain RECCO, the Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau, the Utah Avalanche Center, and the Wasatch Backcountry Rescue Team for their invaluable assistance in the search and recovery efforts.
Utah Avalanche Center Accident Report:
Observer Name: Craig Gordon/Andy Nassetta
Observation Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025
Avalanche Date: Friday, March 7, 2025
Region: Uintas » Hoyt Peak
Location Name or Route: Hoyt Peak/NE Bowl
Elevation: 10,200′
Aspect: Northeast
Slope Angle: 43°
Trigger: Skier
Trigger: Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type: Hard Slab
Avalanche Problem: Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer: Facets
Depth: 3.5′
Width: 150′
Vertical: 1,000′
Caught: 1
Carried: 1
Buried – Fully: 1
Killed: 1
Accident and Rescue Summary
At approximately 5:00 PM on March 7, 2025, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) received a report of an adult male skier who had not returned home as expected.
The individual was believed to have been skiing alone in the backcountry area near Hoyt Peak, located northeast of Kamas City.
Search and Rescue (SAR) resources were immediately deployed and initiated a coordinated search. Due to hazardous and ineffective searching conditions, SAR commanders made the decision to temporarily suspend the search late on March 7, with plans to resume operations at sunrise. Search efforts resumed at first light on March 8.
During the initial search, SAR teams identified an area where an avalanche had recently occurred. It was unclear at that time whether the overdue skier had been involved in the avalanche. Due to extremely hazardous conditions, additional resources were requested to assist with avalanche mitigation, allowing searchers to operate safely and effectively.
Tragically, at 10:49 AM on March 8, the overdue skier was found deceased. It was determined the person involved in the accident was 51 year old, Micheal Janulaitis from Marion, Utah. Micheal used a snowbike to access the terrain, but was caught, carried, and killed in an avalanche while skiing a steep, northeast facing run in Hoyt Bowl.
Terrain Summary
Measuring 43 degrees in slope steepness, this is unforgiving, complicated, treed terrain
Looking downslope from near the crown with rescuers at the burial site.
Weather Conditions and History
February started off slow with two small storm delivering barely an inch of SWE. However, the mid month Valentine’s storm got things rolling with strong winds, 36″ of dense heavy snow, and nearly 4″ of SWE. Above is a data run from nearby Beaver Divide sno-tel site.
Comments
Huge thanks to the Department of Public Safety, Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Village Snow Safety and Ski Patrol teams, along with Wasatch Backcountry Rescue for the hard work recovering Micheal and returning him to his family. Micheal was a friend of Utah Avy and we feel privileged for the time we got to spend together. This is a tremendous loss for our backcountry family and we will miss him deeply.
