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Nishi Gupta reportingA search for a missing snowboarder at Snowbasin Ski Resort has been called off.
Lt. Jeff Malan, Weber County Sheriff's Office: "We will return tomorrow morning at daylight and get a game plan going."
The Weber County Sheriff's Office says a 34-year-old man and his 32-year-old friend were snowboarding down the backside of Taylor's Canyon. A large avalanche gave way, trapping the 34 year old.
The friend was able to get down the mountain and call for help.
The team of about twenty search and rescue personnel and three dogs were unable to locate the snowboarder tonight, the darkness made this rescue attempt impossible.
A witness says early this evening, the friend came to his home to call 911.
Matt Proudfit, Witness, "I guess he was maybe in shock about what he'd been through, I put myself in that position, be upset, thinking about your friend, trying to get him out."
Police they flew the man up to the top to pinpoint the area where the slide occurred. What they saw was concerning: a very deep avalanche slide- they say it was more than 200 feet long, about 200 feet wide.
Lt. Jeff Malan, Weber County Sheriff's Office: "Skiing the backside, the south side, of Taylor's Canyon is really treacherous, there's a lot of avalanche chutes in that area. You take your chances. "
The Sheriff's Office says the two men did not have avalanche gear. They have not released either snowboarder's names, pending notification of the family.
They will continue the search tomorrow.
Police also say this area is becoming a growing problem, and they will look at perhaps limiting access to it.
