EMERY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
PRESS RELEASE

JANUARY 19, 2019 – (UPDATE TO PREVIOUS STORY) Search crews have recovered the body of the skier who was buried by an avalanche yesterday afternoon in a remote area north of Electric Lake in Emery County. The victim has been identified as 26-year-old Michael Besendorfer of Nephi, Utah. Crews conducted an initial search last night, but conditions were deemed too dangerous and the search was suspended at midnight. The search by ground and air resumed this morning after UDOT crews blasted some unstable slopes in the search area. Utah Avalanche Center monitored conditions as searchers were inserted by air, on snowmobiles, timber sleds, snow cats, skis and snowshoes. A search dog and handler were flown in, and teams from Alta Ski Area and Wasatch Back Country Rescue responded to offer their expertise. Besendorfer’s body was located around noon after the search dog, Lucy, indicated on an area. Wasatch Back Country Rescuers positively located the body based on Lucy’s indication, and recovery efforts began. Emery County Sheriff Greg Funk extends a huge thanks to all agencies involved in this search. It was a combined effort by Emery County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Sanpete County Search and Rescue, Utah DPS helicopter crew, Utah State Parks, UDOT, Forest Service, Utah Avalanche Center, Wasatch Back County Rescue and Alta Ski Area. Conditions were difficult and ECSO is grateful for the safety of all involved in the search and recovery effort. Our sincere condolences are extended to the Besendorfer family during this difficult time.

SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR MISSING SKIER: JANUARY 19, 2019 – Personnel from Emery County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Sanpete County Search and Rescue, and Utah DPS helicopter are searching for a missing skier in a side canyon north of Electric Lake in Emery County. Two men were skiing in the area yesterday in the late afternoon. When one man failed to complete a run, the other hiked back up to look for him and discovered an avalanche. After a quick search of the surface, he went for help. Searchers arrived on scene around 8:00 p.m. A forecaster from the Utah Avalanche Center arrived to assess avalanche danger. Due to darkness and inability to assess stability of the area, ground search was limited last night. However, the Utah DPS helicopter conducted a search from the air with spotlights. Around midnight, a decision was made to regroup Saturday morning and continue the search. UDOT will be on scene today with explosives to take care of some unstable areas. SR264 and SR31 are not impacted by search activities. We will update this report as more information becomes available.