SALT LAKE CITY — The man who died in a backcountry snowboarding accident on Tuesday is being remembered as a father of three young boys and an author of one book.
Kyle Mortensen, 37, was reported overdue at 4 p.m. on Tuesday and was found dead by rescuers shortly after in a tree well.
A GoFundMe page created by loved ones described Mortensen as someone who "left this world too early." The money raised will provide for his children's future education in their father's memory
Nicole Barkdull, Mortensen's sister, said her brother died doing what he loves in the mountains.
“He’s an excellent snowboarder. He’s been doing this since I can remember. I have memories of him taking me down the mountain when I was learning to snowboard. It was a true passion of his," she said.
Mortensen let his wife know where he was headed, allowing her to give rescuers his GPS coordinates in order to help find her husband. Sadly, he wasn't able to pick up his three sons that night.
“He was the best father they could have asked for and I know he’s watching over them," said Barkdull. "He’s still there. I hope that they feel that.”
Officials say falling into tree wells in the Wasatch backcountry is extremely rare.
“We’re just having an above average snowpack year here and so we’re just seeing tree wells that are way deeper and way more of a hazard than we normally see here in Utah,” said Zoey Gray with Wasatch Backcountry Rescue.
Gray says the deep wells are something skiers should certainly be aware of this year.
“It’s most important to just try and avoid the issue," she said. "Ski with a buddy and make sure people know where you are.”
Mortensen was author of the book titled "Mists of Iga (Sons of Yokai)," which was published in October 2020.
Barkdull hopes her brother inspires others to live life to the fullest and be a kind and caring husband, brother, friend, and parent.
"Although Kyle’s life was cut so short here on Earth, he lived it to the very best," said Mortensen's sister. "And I hope that inspires everyone to try to live a life like he did.
"To try to always better yourself."
