Search-and-rescue personnel from Grand Teton National Park and Teton County, Wyoming, successfully rescued a missing backcountry skier in the park on Wednesday/NPS

A Colorado skier who spent two cold, snowy nights in the backcountry of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming after leaving an adjoining ski resort was rescued Wednesday.

Mike Syverson, a 31-year-old from Telluride, and Chris Prem, 30, from Destin, Florida, had left the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort via a backcountry gate on Monday. When they failed to return to their group that evening, they were reported overdue.

The emergency call prompted a conference call with Teton County Sheriff's Office and Teton County Search and Rescue with Grand Teton National Park to initiate a search for the men. Information to help determine a search area was limited, other than it was believed the men planned to ski the nearby backcountry.

At approximately 10 p.m. the Teton County Sheriff's Office successfully got a cell phone ping to help determine that the missing skiers were in the Granite Canyon area of the national park, a park release said Wednesday. However, due to avalanche danger and darkness, the active ground and aerial searches were delayed until Tuesday morning.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, however, a resort tram operator spending the night near the top of the tram was awakened by Prem. The skier said he separated from his buddy because his skis allowed him to travel back to the summit for help. He also had a GPS coordinate from a phone app that could help to locate his friend. 

Park rangers and resort ski patrol personnel interviewed Prem at approximately 7:30 a.m. Tuesday atop the mountain to gather information to assist in locating Syverson. Four park rangers then skied into Granite Canyon to begin the search, but found no sign of Syverson.

"Weather conditions were extreme, including 50-60 m.p.h. winds with gusts up to 80 m.p.h. and heavy snowfall," reported park spokeswoman Denise Germann. "Due to these extreme weather and increased avalanche conditions, at approximately 12 p.m. the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort closed for the safety of their staff and guests."

The park rangers searching for the missing skier also returned to the resort base due to the deteriorating and unsafe weather conditions and increased avalanche danger, and aerial search efforts were called off throughout the day due to unsafe flying conditions.

On Wednesday, with improved weather conditions, a Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter spotted Syverson at approximately 8 a.m. near Cardiac Ridge. The helicopter dropped park rangers and county personnel about a quarter mile from the Syverson, and they skied to him and evaluated him for injuries and transport out of the backcountry.

At approximately 10:15 a.m. Syverson, who had spent the two nights in the backcountry in a snow cave he was able to build, was flown to the Teton County Search and Rescue hangar and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for a thorough medical evaluation and treatment for cold-related conditions.

Park rangers remind skiers to "Know Before You Go" and be well prepared for any backcountry adventure. Backcountry travelers should have the appropriate equipment and skills, and always let someone know their planned route and estimated return time. Recreationists should have some familiarity with the terrain and area they wish to enjoy.