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MILLCREEK — Rescue crews braving snowy conditions in Millcreek Canyon have paused their search for a man who was reported missing after he didn't return from a hike Sunday.
The 38-year-old man had been hiking alone and was reported overdue before noon on Sunday, said Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy Arlan Bennett. Deputies have closed the Porter Fork Trail in the area where the man is believed to have been hiking while search and rescue crews try to locate him.
Crews began searching Sunday evening and resumed at 7 a.m. Monday. The Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter has been on standby pending a change in weather conditions, but Bennett said drones and snowmobilers have been deployed in the area. Crews were also taking precautions due to avalanche risk, he said.
Worsening weather conditions forced a pause Monday evening about 6:30 p.m. Search and rescue operations will resume Tuesday morning, the county sheriff said.
"Our Search and Rescue teams are working tirelessly to locate the individual," Sheriff Rosie Rivera said. "We remain hopeful and are doing everything in our power to bring him home safely."
Deputies have not identified the man who is missing, and no other details were immediately available.
Snow totals from the weekend storm were not available for Millcreek Canyon, but areas in the nearby Big and Little Cottonwood canyons received over 2 feet of snow as of Sunday evening, per the National Weather Service.
The weather service issued a warning of high avalanche danger Monday that is in effect across the Uinta Mountains, Wasatch Range, Bear River Range and the Wellsville Mountains through 6 a.m. Tuesday.
