Two Snowmobilers Survive Avalanche on Teton Pass After Being Buried For 3 Hours

Christmas miracles do exist. 

According to the JH News and Guide, Mikey Soderling and his girlfriend Anna Pantone were snowmobiling above Ski Lake on Christmas eve in an area known as “Horshoe Bowl,” when an avalanche was remotely triggered in the bowl above them. According to Soderling, the slide came without warning and was silent. However, the slide traveled an excess of 400 yards and caught the two unaware in the flats below Horshoe Bowl.

What followed is a remarkable tale of avalanche survival.

Once the two were caught in the slide, they were carried and buried with Soderling fully submerged and his girlfriend partially buried with a broken femur. Luckily, he was able to create an air pocket within the debris and after three hours of being fully buried, Soderling emerged from the debris. After which, he quickly went to the aid of Pantone. She was suffering from Hypothermia as well as a severely injured leg.

At the time, no cell signal was available, leaving the two up to their own devices. Quickly, Soderling went to dig out his snowmobile and after excavating the machine from the concrete like snow, transported his girlfriend back to the car. Knowing, she was experiencing a intense case of hypothermia, he didn’t think twice to transport her himself to the St. John’s Emergency Room in Jackson, WY.

So far, reports indicate that Pantone was undergoing treatment for her femur on Christmas day but may have been released yesterday evening.

Search and rescue was not involved and the incident was a self sustained rescue. As of today, the avalanche danger for the Teton Range is at ‘Considerable.’ 

Read the Entire JH News and Guide Article Here: Two snowmobilers buried on Teton Pass

Avalanche Notes Courtesy of The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

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