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Sam Penrod reportingThree East Coast hikers became stranded on a mountainside near Sundance today.
Aside from a lesson on the outdoors, they also learned the meaning of "western hospitality" as a chopper and rescue team brought them to safety.
The hikers weren't hurt, just scared.
They started up the Mt. Timpanogos trail. But by the time they reached Aspen Grove, they were in big trouble.
The hikers are all visiting Utah from the East Coast. They set out today for a walk, but it was such a nice day, three of them decided to keep going, but late this afternoon, they suddenly realized they were in a danger zone.
The three hikers waited to be rescued, after learning they were right in the middle of one of the biggest avalanche paths in Provo Canyon.
Their day ended in dramatic fashion, being lifted to safety by LifeFlight's rescue hoist. Much differently than the relaxing day hike it was suppose to be.
Arthur Spitzer, Rescued Hiker: "When we parked here we saw the trailhead and it was nice and dry and inviting so we started up the trail, several members of our group were smarter and turned around when the trail became snow covered, but the three of us decided to continue for awhile."
The two men and a woman, all co-workers-- made it to the second falls on the Aspen Grove trail, when they began to wonder how to get back.
Arthur Spitzer, Rescued Hiker: "We called our local friend whose cabin we are staying at here and she said, I don't think you should do anything, I am going to call search and rescue. So that's when we knew it was a more dangerous situation that we understood."
When Search and Rescue got the call to this area, it immediately caused concern.
Lt. Darren Gilbert, Utah County Sheriff's Office: "They were right in a slide path that has occurred with numerous slides in just the last week."
The hikers cell phone battery died, so they lost contact with rescuers, but they could see help was on the way.
Arthur Spitzer, Rescued Hiker: "Once we realized search and rescue was on the case we were not worried."
Spitzer says the three of them consider themselves lucky and call it was a lesson they won't forget.
Arthur Spitzer, Rescued Hiker: "It was a pain in the neck for a lot of people and big expense for a lot of people and that was certainly not our intent And I am sorry to have caused that."
Search teams were already moving to the hikers on the ground, in case they could not be flown to safety, but the helicopter rescue worked out or the hikers may still haven been on their way off the mountain.
