SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah – Authorities have identified the skier who lost his life in an avalanche in Summit County on Saturday.
The victim, 51-year-old Michael Janulaitis of Marion, Utah, was found deceased after being buried in a slide while skiing in Hoyt Bowl, a steep northeast-facing area. The Utah Avalanche Center expressed deep sorrow over his passing, describing Janulaitis as a valued member of the backcountry community.
Incident Details
On the evening of March 7, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a skier who had not returned. Janulaitis had been skiing alone in the backcountry near Hoyt Peak, northeast of Kamas City.
Search and rescue teams were dispatched but faced dangerous conditions that forced them to suspend operations late Friday night. The search resumed at sunrise the following morning, with additional resources brought in for avalanche mitigation.
During the search, crews identified an avalanche site but were initially unsure if Janulaitis had been caught in it. By 10:50 a.m. on March 8, rescuers located his body and confirmed that he had been swept away by the slide.
Community Response
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office extended condolences to Janulaitis’ family and expressed gratitude to the multiple agencies involved in the search, including Park City Mountain Snow Experts, the Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau, the Utah Avalanche Center, and Wasatch Backcountry Rescue.
Janulaitis’ death is a tragic loss for the backcountry skiing community, and officials continue to urge skiers and snowboarders to remain cautious in avalanche-prone areas .
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