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John Hollenhorst ReportingSearchers have called off their search for the night at the scene of an avalanche that apparently killed a snowboarder from South Ogden. His body is believed to be under a massive slide in the back-country just East of Ogden.
It's been a very frustrating day today for all concerned. A low ceiling of clouds made it very dangerous for choppers to go in, and that meant the search was shut down for most of the day.
Dozens of search and rescue volunteers suited up. Search dogs were ready to go. But the weather kept them all on hold. It just wasn't safe to go into the mountains.
Brad Slater, Weber County Sheriff: "We still have a very treacherous avalanche potential environment."
Thirty-four-year old Ryan Smedley was up there, somewhere around 8200 feet, while his relatives waited and hoped.
George Smedley, Brother of Ryan: "We're praying for a miracle."
Taylor Canyon is popular with skiers and snowboarders. They can take a lift up at Snow Basin Ski Resort and descend through back-country, right into Ogden City streets. Smedley, a 34-year old general contractor, was snowboarding with a friend Saturday when a slide swept him away. Dozens of his friends gathered near the command post for a quiet vigil.
George Smedley: "This is his backyard. He and about eight or nine of his friends snowboard this area constantly."
By late afternoon, the weather lifted just enough for a chopper to go in and drop explosives. The charges were intended to dislodge slides that threatened the searchers. That allowed about three dozen searchers to go in, hoping to find a man who had been in love with snowboarding since he was in Junior High.
George Smedley: "He lived life to the fullest, and he's never been a reckless person, but he was full of adventure and he loved life."
They searched into the evening, but finally gave it up for a second night.
Brad Slater, Weber County Sheriff: "Challenging, steep, difficult, even with good weather conditions. Weather conditions hampered us most of the day and caused most of our frustrations."
