Search team rescues lost hunters in East Canyon

Salt Lake County search and rescue crews used snowmobiles and snowshoes to reach a man and his grandson who got lost while hunting in East Canyon Sunday afternoon.

The 52-year-old grandfather and the 13-year-old boy had hiked up the canyon and into Morgan County when they became lost, said Unified Police Department Lt. Justin Hoyal. The pair used a cellphone to call for help about 3 p.m., triggering the search effort, he said.

The hunters were not injured but were "lost and cold," Hoyal said.

A rescue team used snowmobiles to get as close as possible to the pair before strapping on snowshoes and proceeding on foot, Hoyal said.

By 7:30 p.m., the man and his grandson had been brought off the mountain and were being checked by paramedics, Hoyal said.

The names of the man and his grandson, who are both from Salt Lake County, were not immediately released.

The two were lucky — and smart — to have taken a cellphone with them, especially when an afternoon storm blew in, bringing heavy snow to area mountains, Hoyal said.

"When you're going out into the elements, check the weather forecasts, know the conditions and be prepared for the weather to change," said Hoyal. "Also, make sure you go with a fully charged cellphone battery. Obviously, that helped us with this process."

jdobner@sltrib.com