Skiers stranded on freezing mountain after struggling with gear, Utah rescuers say

Two skiers were stranded on a freezing mountain for hours after having trouble with their gear, Utah rescuers said.

The skiers were stuck on Mount Olympus in Utah on Monday, Jan. 10, as the sun set and the slope began to freeze over, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team said.

“Firstly, they were having some technical difficulties with their gear,” rescuers said on Facebook. “Secondly, they had discontinued downward movement since the couloir they were in had frozen over.”

Three rescue teams were sent to help the skiers off the mountain. They brought food, rope gear and technical equipment, according to the sheriff’s office rescue team.

“The teams on the mountain arrived at the patients, assessed the situation, and created a series of lowering systems to safely extricate the patients from the steep couloir,” rescuers said.

The teams and skiers were off the mountain by 1 a.m., about four hours after the rescue began. The skiers were not injured.

“The skiers were in good health and spirits,” rescuers said.

Trail conditions change quickly during the winter months. The temperature can drop quickly as the sun sets, and the area can freeze.

Mount Olympus is a 9,026-foot peak about 13 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.

This story was originally published January 11, 2022 at 10:18 AM with the headline "Skiers stranded on freezing mountain after struggling with gear, Utah rescuers say."