Correction: An earlier version of this story failed to account for two deaths at Eldora in 2011.

A 22-year-old University of Colorado student died Monday at Eldora Mountain Resort after he apparently struck a tree while skiing.

Friends identified the skier as Rob Miles, a CU senior who was double-majoring in environmental engineering and music. According to his Facebook profile, Miles originally was from Coral Springs, Fla.

Emma Mossinger, a CU graduate who knew Miles through the Theta Tau engineering fraternity, said friends grew concerned when Miles didn’t return calls and texts Monday.

When he missed scheduled music rehearsals and fraternity meetings, Mossinger called police around 9 p.m. and reported him missing.

“He never misses anything,” Mossinger said. “There wasn’t a question in any of our minds that something had gone really wrong.”

Boulder County sheriff’s deputies found Miles’ car in the Eldora parking lot, and, later Monday night, ski resort employees located his body just off the Jolly Jug ski run within the resort’s boundaries.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation concluded Miles — who was wearing a helmet — fell and hit a tree while skiing, sheriff’s officials said.

“Eldora Mountain Resort is saddened to learn this incident occurred and, when appropriate, we will extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends,” the resort said in a statement.

Eldora officials declined to further discuss the accident.

Miles’ death appears to be the fifth on Eldora’s slopes since 2000.

In 2011, a skier and snowboarder died in separate accidents involving trees.

In 2008, a skier suffered fatal head injuries after his skis caught on an unexposed rock on the West Ridge run. Another skier died after hitting a tree on that same run in 2000.

There were 10 deaths directly related to skiing or snowboarding at Colorado resorts during the 2013-2014 ski season, according to Colorado Ski Country USA.

A Colorado Ski Country USA official said he believed Monday’s death at Eldora was not the state’s first skier fatality of the season, but could not provide further details.

CU senior Catherine Atkins said news of Miles’ death was devastating for the close-knit fraternity.

“It’s been heartwrenching,” Atkins said. “It’s been a really hard day for all of us.”

Mossinger said she remembers Miles coming into the fraternity four years ago as a freshman and initially thinking he was quiet and shy. She said she quickly found out that was not the case.

“He was just an awesome, silly guy,” Mossinger said. “He’s not afraid to tell people what he thinks.”

Added Atkins, “He was the life of the party. He was the guy you always wanted to be around, whether it was watching sports or at a concert.”

Atkins said Miles was a big CU basketball fan and a talented musician.

“He was an amazing bassoon player, and he could talk your ear off about all the symphonic bands he was in,” Atkins said. “His two passions were music and the fraternity.”

Both Atkins and Mossinger said the one thing that stood out about Miles was how he was always there for his friends. Atkins first met Miles a year ago and formed an instant bond with him because of how outgoing and friendly he was.

“I don’t know a single person who met Rob and didn’t love him,” Atkins said. “You only had to meet him and you would never want him to leave you.

“You just always wanted him to be around.”

Mossinger said she once was helping organize a Relay for Life event. While it was sparsely attended, Mossinger said Miles knew how hard she worked on the event.

“That’s my favorite memory, him dropping everything to be with me when nobody else was,” Mossinger said. “He was always there for anyone, no matter how big or small the problem was.

“He was the go-to guy whether you wanted to have fun or needed someone to talk to.”

Mitchell Byars: 303-473-1329, byarsm@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/mitchellbyars