Sheriff Suspending Search For Missing Davis Ski Instructor Carson May

UPDATE: Mike May, Carson May's father, spoke with CBS13 and thanked searchers for their efforts in trying to find his son.

He says between the efforts of Sugar Bowl and the Placer County Sheriff's Department, they did what they could in difficult conditions as storms pounded the Sierra during the weekend search.

He said some of the efforts were delayed by a few issues, including difficulties with features like phone tracking. He recommends making sure family and loved ones have access to features like Apple's Find My iPhone so they can easily track down a lost family member without delays from court orders.

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SUGAR BOWL (CBS13) — The Placer County Sheriff's Department has announced it is suspending the search for a missing Davis ski instructor at the end of the day on Tuesday.

Carson May, 23, was reported missing on Friday and has not been seen since Thursday afternoon at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort near Norden.

Several waves of strong Sierra storms have blown through the area since he was reported missing, complicating efforts. The sheriff's department has described the search as "treacherous" due to the heavy snow, and the avalanche danger in the area.

Search crews scoured the area around Sugar Bowl over the long holiday weekend. Stormy weather and avalanche concerns hampered the ground and air search.

Crews on the ground on Sunday searched an area that recently had an avalanche and was where May's phone last pinged.

Sugar Bowl Resort issued the following statement:

After five difficult days of extensive search and rescue efforts to find missing skier Carson May, as of 4 p.m. today (Jan. 19) the Placer County Sheriff's Office has suspended search and rescue operations. Tragically the hard work and determination of hundreds of search and rescue professionals and volunteers has not resulted in finding Carson.

Carson, 23, a highly regarded friend and colleague of many here at the resort, has spent the past three seasons as a Mountain Sports Learning Center ski school instructor. Staff members and the Sugar Bowl community will be dealing with the impacts of this situation for some time.

First and foremost, however, our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go to the May family, who have been dealing with the unthinkable these past five days. The May family and Sugar Bowl will work together moving forward to try to find some sense of closure.

Sugar Bowl wishes to sincerely thank the more than 400 professionals and volunteers, including seven avalanche dog teams and three helicopter teams who contributed to this monumental effort, including but not limited to:

The Placer County Sheriff's Office, Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue, the Nevada, Eldorado, Contra Costa, Fresno, Monterey and Douglas County Search & Rescue Teams, Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit, Marin County Rescue, the United States Forest Service, California State Parks, Tahoe Backcountry Patrol, Tahoe Avalanche Control Team, Air Force National Guard, California Highway Patrol, and of course Sugar Bowl's Ski Patrol, National Ski Patrol, Ski School and all staff members.

Without these agencies, we would not have been able to cover the vast terrain involved so quickly. Should anyone have new information please contact the Placer County Sheriff's Office, and should any new clues arise moving forward they will be investigated to the fullest extent.