SANPETE, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Search teams rescued seven people trapped on Horseshoe Mountain after an avalanche completely buried a man at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
They traveled up the mountain on a snowcat to enjoy backcountry skiing.
At least three men in the group triggered an avalanche by digging in the snow to test for an avalanche.
One man was completely buried, another man was buried except for his face and arm a third man near the path of the avalanche somehow escaped the snow with out any problems.
The man partially exposed was quickly rescued. CPR was performed on the man who was completely buried. He was unconscious.
The group quickly called 911 sometime between 11:30 a.m. and noon.
Rescue crews from four different agencies struggled to get to the group, 15 miles from the base of the mountain.
A life flight helicopter was flown in, but was unable to make a rescue because of the white out weather conditions caused by fog and snow.
Search and rescue crews were forced to hike in 15 miles with snow shoes. They found six people in fair condition.
The one man partially buried showed signs of distress, but otherwise appeared to be in fair physical condition.
The man who was completely buried was still unconscious when rescue crews reached him. He was at the bottom of a 1,000 foot bowl.
Crews had to use ropes to pull him out of the bowl to the snowcat.
Six of the avalanche victims finally reached the rescue command post at 9:30 p.m. Their families embraced each other.
The unconscious victim was finally rushed to a hospital by ambulance around 11:00 p.m., almost 12 hours after he was buried in the snow.
There were five men and two women in the group. Sanpete County Sheriff's Department spokesman says they are all from either Salt Lake City or Cache County.
ABC 4 News captured exclusive video of rescue crews coming down with the first six victims and family embracing each other in relief.
The video should be posted here on-line Sunday.
The victim's names should be released Sunday.
