Teen dies hiking Big Cottonwood Canyon; another rescued

One teenager died and another was rescued from a mountain by helicopter after they fell Monday while hiking in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Police searched for hours to locate the two teens after receiving a cell phone call from one of the boys, who did not know his location.

At about 4:30 p.m. an emergency cell phone call came in from a 17-year-old male who said he and a friend "were hiking somewhere in Big Cottonwood Canyon and that he had fallen, hit his head and hurt his leg," said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Mike Morgan. He said the caller told them his vehicle was in one of the canyon's many parking lots.

"He was unaware what canyon he was in, and he didn't know where his friend was," Morgan said.

After canvassing every parking lot, the vehicle was not found. Police contacted the residence where the caller lives (police would not give the name of the city). Police were told that the two hikers had driven the friend's vehicle, and the car was found parked at the Mill B trailhead, which led police to an area where the hikers might be.

All the while, officers tried to maintain a cell phone connection with the teen, which Morgan said was difficult. Using Life Flight and news media helicopters, Morgan said they located one of the boys in the Twin Peaks area, at nearly 10,000 feet.

"It's a rough rescue," he said.

The surviving hiker was hoisted off a cliff, where he had fallen nearly 100 feet, at about 8 p.m. and was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Officers reached the body of the other boy, 17, just before dark. His body will be brought off the mountain this morning. Police believe he died from injuries sustained in the fall.

"We were running out of daylight," he said. "That was a serious issue."

Earlier Monday, Washington County Sheriff's deputies rescued a pair of hikers who became stranded on Pine Valley Mountain.

The husband and wife were hiking Sunday on a trail when they reached the top of the mountain.

"The trail sort of faded out," said Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith. "They went the way they thought it went but couldn't find their way back."

The hikers used a cell phone to call for help. Smith said they were able to provide emergency dispatchers with GPS coordinates. Helicopters lifted them to safety.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com