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Backcountry skier killed in avalanche in Emery County

A backcountry skier was buried in snow and found dead Saturday after an avalanche Friday in Emery County, where officials had warned of “considerable” avalanche danger.

Michael Besendorfer, 26, was skiing with a friend north of Electric Lake in the Skyline region of the state when he triggered an avalanche Friday, according to the Emery County Sheriff’s Department.

The friend, who descended the slope before Besendorfer, started searching when Besendorfer didn’t make it down the mountain. He called for help shortly afterward when he couldn’t find him. Search crews made it to the mountain by 8 p.