By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
A 21-year-old Salt Lake City hiker escaped with minor
injuries after riding an avalanche on Mount Nebo feet
first.
The accident occurred on Saturday, Feb. 19.
Mark Thomas had a minor back injury and frostbitten
feet after his Saturday ordeal, said Juab County Sheriff
Alden Orme.
"He was extremely lucky," said Orme.
Thomas was forced to ride the avalanche down the
mountainside after he fell about 1,000 feet when he
dropped off a mountain ledge.
Thomas and two other men were hiking Mount Nebo when
one told police that the snow gave way.
"Thomas&emdash;who was between the two men&emdash;slid
about a thousand feet down the mountain, triggering an
avalanche," Orme said.
Orme said that Thomas told law enforcement officers
that he rode the snow feet-first down the mountain and
was partially buried in the basin.
His friends, who did not fall off the ridge, tried to
help rescue him. They determined they would need help and
eventually went for help.
While they were gone, Thomas was able to dig himself
out of the snow and began walking out of the canyon. He
meet his rescuers on their way up the mountain.
