Iron County sheriff's deputies were searching an area Tuesday surrounding a southern Utah ski resort for a missing college student who failed to return from an afternoon of cross country skiing.

Search and rescue teams were looking near the Brian Head ski resort for Levi Nelson, 22, a Southern Utah University student in Cedar City.

"His roommates found a note saying he was going to go up and do some cross country skiing," Iron County sheriff's detective Jody Edwards said. "It said, 'If I'm not home' by such time, call police."

Deputies began searching an area known as Rattlesnake Drainage Monday night until nightfall, Edwards said. Searchers did find Nelson's car parked near some condominiums at the Brian Head resort. However, there was no sign of Nelson.

"It was a trailhead he'd heard of, he was excited to try it," Edwards said.

Weather was severely hindering search efforts Tuesday. A Department of Public Safety helicopter was grounded in Parowan. Snowmobiles were not able to access the terrain where Nelson is believed to lost.

View Comments

"We have three teams of searchers on snowshoes looking for Levi," Edwards said. "We've had to scale back our equipment and manpower."

Nelson's parents traveled from Rexburg, Idaho, to the Cedar City area to assist with the search efforts, Edwards said. Authorities were confident that Nelson could survive rough weather.

"Levi is somewhat familiar with survival tactics," Edwards said. "In fact, only a month ago his roommates said he built a snow cave and spent the night in it just to try it out."


E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.