Craig Gordon and Andy Nassetta from the Utah Avalanche Center traveled to Hoyt Peak to provide an on the ground assessment of the conditions that led to a fatal March 7th avalanche that claimed the life of 51-year-old Michael Janulaitis from Marion, Utah.
Janulaitis used a snowbike to access the terrain and was skiing when was caught, carried, and killed in an avalanche on a northeast facing run in Hoyt Bowl.
“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.” –Utah Avalanche Center
Our thought are with the family and friends of Michael Janulaitis. Read the full accident report from Utah Avalanche Center below.
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.
