2 skiers killed in Utah avalanche; 1 digs out: police

Two skiers were killed and a third was hospitalized after an avalanche at Lone Peak in Utah, according to the Salt Lake City Unified Police Department.

According to the police, the skiers were buried in an avalanche in the hinterland.

The deceased victims were described as two men, aged 32 and 23, Sgt. Aymee Race told reporters.

According to Race, the skier who was hospitalized was treated for minor injuries after he was able to free himself from the snow and tried to save his two friends before calling for help.

Search and rescue workers were unable to reach the scene because the avalanche conditions were too dangerous, authorities said.

The two bodies remain on the mountain after recovery operations were suspended from 4 p.m. local time because snow fell on the mountain again, police said.

Large, dangerous avalanches are rare this late in the ski season because daytime warmth usually stabilizes the snowpack, Craig Gordon of the Utah Avalanche Center told reporters.

A recent storm of about 30 inches changed weather conditions very quickly, dramatically increasing the danger, Gordon said. He added that this area on the north side of Lone Peak is steep and technical, making rescue efforts difficult.

As is often the case with nearby ski areas with large resources, Alta Ski Area told ABC News that it had dispatched a ski patrol and avalanche rescue dog to assist in search and rescue efforts.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.