Family says Evan loved life

The distraught family of an autistic teenager who died in NSW's snowfields says he cherished every minute of his short life.

Evan Greenwood's body was found on Tuesday morning after he failed to return from a skiing trip in the NSW Snowy Mountains the day before.

Temperatures dropped below freezing on Monday night and it's believed the 15-year-old had no food or water with him.

His family, from Canterbury in Sydney's southwest, on Tuesday paid tribute to their son and brother - and to the people who found his frozen body only a few kilometres from a resort and ski run.

"We would like to thank everyone involved in the search for our loved son and brother Evan," said the Greenwood family, who were holidaying at Charlotte Pass.

"He was a beautiful person who loved life and cherished every minute."

Evan, who suffered a mild form of autism and was an intermediate-level skier, was last seen at about 9.30am (AEST) on Monday at the resort.

The boy had told relatives he was going skiing and family members contacted resort staff when he had not returned by lunchtime.

Police began a search for him at 4pm (AEST) before suspending it overnight. It was resumed at 6am on Tuesday.

About 100 police, SES workers and National Parks and Wildlife staff were looking for Evan at the resort, which is a 30-minute snow ride from Perisher.

His body was found two kilometres from Charlotte Pass Ski Resort, behind the Mt Guthrie ski run area.

"At about 11.30am (AEST) today a group of cross-country skiers have located a body of a young male person who we believe is our missing person, Evan," Superintendent Garry Merriweather told media on Tuesday.

A report is being prepared for the coroner, police said.