Nearly 90 runners rescued from mountain snowstorm
The Davis County Sheriff’s Office said they rescued 87 participants from white-out conditions on the top of Farmington Canyon.
FARMINGTON, Utah – Dozens of ultra-marathon participants are safe after being stranded in white-out conditions in the mountains of northern Utah on Saturday.
The Davis County Sheriff’s office said rescue teams deployed around 9:30 a.m. after they were alerted to 87 runners being stranded in the extreme weather conditions.
Runners were participants in a 50 mile race known as the ‘DC Peaks 50’ which winds through the wilderness and mountains, north of Salt Lake City.
First responders said not only did the runners had to deal with cold temperatures, they also dealt with 12-18 inches of snow.
The rescue operation lasted around five hours.
The sheriff’s office reported several of the runners were treated for hyperthermia but were released on scene.
"Venturing onto the mountains, trails and bodies of water at this time of year can be dangerous because the weather changes rapidly and conditions can quickly become life-threatening. Even a mild rain in he valley can translate to blizzard conditions at higher elevations," said Davis County Sheriff Kelly Sparks.