Miracle In The Mountains: Snowmobiler Found Alive After Avalanche Buries Him For Over An Hour

February 19, 2025

Today's good news story comes from Summit County, Colorado.

A snowmobiler in Colorado’s Vail Pass Recreation Area is lucky to be alive after being buried in an avalanche for over an hour. Thanks to the rapid response of the Summit County Rescue Group (SCRG) and their skilled search dogs, the man was found conscious and breathing—a rare and miraculous survival story.

Summit County Rescue Group

On February 17 at 12:11 p.m., two men were snowmobiling in the Shrine Bowl area when they accidentally triggered an avalanche. One rider was completely buried, while his friend immediately called 9-1-1 and began searching for him.

SCRG responded quickly, deploying four dog teams and 27 rescuers. Additional support came from the Rapid Avalanche Deployment (RAD) team, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), and avalanche specialists from Copper Mountain Ski Area. However, harsh winter conditions prevented a Flight for Life helicopter from assisting.

Avalanche experts warn that survival rates drop dramatically after just 15 minutes under the snow. But in an incredible stroke of luck, a searcher spotted a small piece of fabric sticking out of the debris field at 1:13 p.m.—over an hour after the burial. When he pulled on it, he realized it was part of the man’s inflated avalanche airbag.

Rescuers quickly dug through the 0.6 to 0.7 meters (2 feet) of snow and uncovered the man, who was miraculously conscious and talking despite 65 minutes of entrapment.

The rescued man was suffering from early signs of hypothermia but was otherwise in surprisingly good condition. He was transported via snowmobile and an Orion sled (a gurney on skis) to a waiting ambulance, which took him to Summit Medical Center for treatment.

The avalanche, estimated at 150 meters wide and 100 meters long, occurred during a "high" avalanche risk day (rated 4 out of 5) by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) following heavy storms.

SCRG expressed gratitude to the RAD team, SCSO, CAIC, and the U.S. Forest Service for their support in the rescue. Their quick coordination and life-saving efforts turned what could have been a tragedy into a remarkable rescue story.