Observer Name
UAC Staff
Observation Date
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Avalanche Date
Friday, March 7, 2025
Region
Uintas » Hoyt Peak
Location Name or Route
Hoyt Peak/Northeast Bowl
Elevation
10,200'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
43°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
3.5'
Width
150'
Vertical
1,000'
Caught
1
Carried
1
Buried - Fully
1
Killed
1
Accident and Rescue Summary
PRELIMINARY REPORT... more succinct details will follow-
At approximately 5:00 PM on March 7, 2025, the Summit County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) received a report of an adult male skier who had not returned home as expected.
The individual was believed to have been skiing alone in the backcountry area near Hoyt Peak, located northeast of Kamas City.
Search and Rescue (SAR) resources were immediately deployed and initiated a coordinated search. Due to hazardous and ineffective searching conditions, SAR commanders made the decision to temporarily suspend the search late on March 7, with plans to resume operations at sunrise. Search efforts resumed at first light on March 8.
During the initial search, SAR teams identified an area where an avalanche had recently occurred. It was unclear at that time whether the overdue skier had been involved in the avalanche. Due to extremely hazardous conditions, additional resources were requested to assist with avalanche mitigation, allowing searchers to operate safely and effectively.
Tragically, at 10:49 AM on March 8, the overdue skier was found deceased. It was determined the person involved in the accident was 51 year old, Micheal Janulaitis from Marion, Utah. Micheal used a snowbike to access the terrain, but was caught, carried, and killed in an avalanche while skiing a steep, northeast facing run in Hoyt Bowl. Michael was buried two feet deep and found by a WBR dog team, Recco, and probe strike. Michael was not wearing an avalanche transceiver.
Terrain Summary
Measuring 43 degrees in slope steepness, this is unforgiving, complicated, treed terrain with several mid-slope breakovers adding to the complexity.
Powder blasted trees indicate the velosity and severity of the slide.
An image captured near the crown of the avalanche looking down slope with rescuers at the burial site.
Weather Conditions and History
February started off slow, with two small storm delivering barely an inch of SWE. However, the mid month Valentine's storm got things rolling with strong winds and two distinct impulses totaling 4.1" of SWE and nearly36" of dense heavy snow. Above is a data run from nearby Redden Mine (8,540') sno-tel site.
Data collected above is from the Windy Peak (10,661') anemometer, located 16 miles to the east-northeast, the closest wind site to Hoyt Peak. Arrows illustrate three distinct loading events- the Valentine's storm, the post Valentine's storm, and the early March storm.
Normally void of snow, Windy Peak weather station shown here on the tail end of the moisture laden Valentine's storm plastered with dense snow.
Snow Profile Comments
Forecaster Andy Nassetta identifies a thin layer of faceted snow near the early February dust later.
Comments
Uinta avalanche forecast for Friday March 7th.
Comments
Before SAR teams got boots on the ground, Canyons Village Snow Safety reduced overhead hazard with avalanche mitigation. The above image is an explosive triggered avalanche with similar characterics to the deadly slide Micheal triggered.
Huge thanks to the Department of Public Safety, Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Village Snow Safety and Ski Patrol teams, along with Wasatch Backcountry Rescue for the hard work recovering Micheal and returning him to his family. Micheal was a friend of Utah Avy and we feel privileged for the time we got to spend together. This is a tremendous loss for our backcountry family and we will miss him deeply.
Comments
Coordinates