Search on for 4 people missing at Maine ski resort; searchers have spoken with them by phone

Search under way for 4 missing at Maine ski resort

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine — Officials in western Maine say a search is under way for four people who went missing at the Sugarloaf ski area.

Sugarloaf spokesman Ethan Austin says the ski patrol was notified about 4:45 p.m. Sunday that a group of three skiers or snowboarders plus another person skiing or boarding alone apparently went out of bounds in a large area of expert terrain on the backside of the mountain.

Austin says searchers have been in cell phone contact with the group and have come within earshot of them. But efforts have been hampered by high winds and more than 5 feet of snow that have fallen since Wednesday.

The Maine Warden Service and the ski patrol searched late into the night and resumed their search at 5 a.m. Monday.