"She was out there with Chris, and he was one of those that did not get hit by the avalanche and was able to dig out a couple of people," said Jill. "And when he got to her, he told us that he dug her out, but he couldn't bring her back. We are so appreciative that he was there, though."

Two other friends in Sarah's group also died — Louis Holian, 26, and Thomas Steinbrecher, 23, both from Salt Lake City.

The avalanche also wiped out a group of three other skiers, claiming the life of one of them — 26-year-old Stephanie Hopkins, who was also from Salt Lake City.