Overnight skiing fundraiser for Utah Avalanche Center is canceled

An overnight skiing event set for March 29-30 to raise money for the Utah Avalanche Center has been canceled because of insufficient sign-ups.

"We were not able to generate the critical mass of registered participants necessary to make the event viable … this year," said a statement on the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center's Facebook page.

The nonprofit group helps raise money for the Avalanche Center, a U.S. Forest Service agency that provides daily forecasts during the winter of the slide threat in mountainous areas frequented by backcountry users.

The statement said the organization will start processing refunds next week for anyone who have registered.

In the "12 Hours of Canyons," skiers and snowboarders would have cruised selected runs at the Park City-area resort from 7 p.m. on March 29 until 7 a.m. on March 30. Registration costs $200 per individual and $400 per team, with organizers hoping additional pledges would boost individual donations to $500 and team totals to $1,000.

Although there was not enough interest this year, Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center pledged, "We're coming back with a vengeance next winter, so stay fit and look forward to spending the night with us in 2014."