Search and rescue, ski patrol find skier caught in small avalanche near Bogus Basin

Search and rescue and ski patrol teams responded to reports of a missing skier near Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area last night, according to an Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue Unit Facebook post.

Search and rescue said it was called out late Wednesday by the Boise County Sheriff’s Office to aid Bogus Basin ski patrol in locating the skier, who had gone out of the ski area’s bounds on the back side of the mountain. Fifteen volunteers split into teams and began searching the back of the mountain, the post said.

Rescuers used extreme caution after an avalanche risk assessment showed “very significant” risk in the direction the skier traveled.

Rescue teams eventually made voice contact with the skier, who they said was “somewhere deep in a backcountry canyon.” After carefully making their way into the canyon, rescuers found the man early Thursday morning.

Officials said the man was uninjured but had lost both his skis in a small avalanche, effectively trapping him in the canyon.

The Idaho National Guard was called to hoist the skier and rescuers from the canyon, but foggy conditions kept its helicopter grounded. Instead, rescuers guided the skier to a cat track, where they were picked up by a Bogus Basin snowcat crew.

Bogus Basin officials did not immediately respond to an email from the Idaho Statesman on Thursday morning.

Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue urged winter recreationists to be aware of ski area boundaries, environmental conditions and their own ability level and physical limitations. The organization also encouraged carrying appropriate gear, including avalanche beacons when skiing in the backcountry.