Trail runner rescued by Wasatch County SAR in Coyote Trails

A trail runner was rescued from the Coyote Trails in Wasatch County on the evening of March 18, 2024, after being stranded in snow. The rescue operation involved the Wasatch County Search and Rescue (SAR) team and the Utah State Department of Public Safety (DPS). Photo: Wasatch County SAR

WASATCH COUNTY, Utah — A trail runner was rescued from the Coyote Trails in Wasatch County on the evening of March 18, after being stranded in snow.

The rescue operation, which involved the Wasatch Search and Rescue (SAR) team and the Utah State Department of Public Safety (DPS), took place at approximately 6 p.m.

The individual, a 43-year old female who has not been named, was trapped in an area above Utah Valley University’s Heber campus, where conditions were reported to include about two feet of snow. This particular section of the Coyote Trails is known for its remote terrain, especially during the winter months.

Upon receiving the call, Wasatch SAR deployed teams from both the top and bottom of the ridge in an effort to reach the stranded runner as quickly as possible. Given the duration the individual had been exposed to the cold and the remote location, the Utah State DPS was called upon to assist with a helicopter for evacuation.

The operation lasted approximately 3.5 hours, with a successful rescue of the trail runner.