Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON — A 37-year-old backcountry skier was found dead near Brighton Resort on Tuesday.
Kyle Mortensen was skiing alone in an out-of-bounds area on Tuesday, said Unified Police Sgt. Melody Cutler. When he failed to pick up his kids on time, his wife called police.
The wife was able to provide search crews with Mortensen's last-known GPS coordinates. Members of Wasatch Backcountry Rescue found his body in a tree well, Cutler said, after possibly hitting a tree.
According to a GoFundMe* campaign set up for Mortensen, he was a husband and father to three young children, ages 7, 4 and 7-months.
"He left this world too early," the fundraiser states. Mortensen also had his debut novel published in 2020.
Mortensen was found in a tree well, an area under the tree canopy that can become dangerous when the snow is high enough that branches reach snow level and create a canopy and area with lower snow under the tree. Craig Gordon with the Utah Avalanche Center said tree wells are not usual in Utah, but this year they can be seen at resorts and in other areas.
He said people caught in a tree well should remain calm, take off skis or boards and try to get someone from outside to help.
"As you try to fight for air, more snow then piles in around you — that's why it's going to be imperative to have a partner with you," he said.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
Contributing: Shelby Lofton
