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LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON — Kim Hall watched has her friend lost her footing and started to fall down a very icy slope in the White Pine backcountry, southwest of Snowbird Ski Resort.
"I panicked and tried to go after her, which was not the smartest thing to do," she said Wednesday after rescuers had brought her safely down the mountain. Hall, 27, ended up falling as well, tumbling over icy cliffs and landing some 1,500 feet below where they started.
I thought I was going to die. I thought I was going to be severely injured.
–Kim Hall, backcountry skier
#hall_quote
The two had set out for a backcountry ski, but conditions quickly changed as the snow turned to ice.
"I had no idea what to think," Hall said. "I thought I was going to die. I thought I was going to be severely injured." When she realized she was OK, she began yelling for her friend, Jewell Lund, and when Lund didn't respond, Hall set out to find her.
Lucky for them both, there were several skiers on the same slope — at least 18 others, some part of guided backcountry ski tours and others enjoying the backcountry solace.
Quino Gonzalez, a Chilean who lives in Salt Lake City and works as a backcountry guide, was standing alone on an adjacent ridge when he saw the two women fall.
"What I was thinking was I had to rush there and do something," he said, adding that while he had witnessed a number of snow slides Wednesday, the women had not been carried away in an avalanche, but had somehow lost control.
Although there is a lot of snow still in the area, the time of year makes skiing more dangerous, especially in the "steep, unforgiving terrain" where the women were seen skiing, said Utah Avalanche Center specialist Craig Gordon.
"You can be up in the mountains nearly every day throughout the winter or spring, but remember, we've got to match our terrain choices with what the avalanche danger is," he said. Wednesday's incident, he said, was a "good reminder to people about what's going on in the backcountry."
It's unbelievable to me. These women have angels watching over them.
–Lt. Jake Petersen, UPD
#petersen_quote
Unified Police Lt. Jake Petersen said he was "extremely grateful we weren't recovering a body up there … that is how a lot of these situations end up."
The emergency call was made by the other skiers who witnessed the incident at about 2 p.m. Rescuers were air-lifted to the area to begin a snow-shoe climb up the hill to reach Hill and Lund. Swift changes in the weather made it difficult for Life Flight to land, but both women were carried out by the helicopter, giving them the immediate care they needed, Petersen said.
Lund, 25, was carried out first, after rescuers reached her at about 3:30 p.m. She suffered various injuries, including a broken elbow and a fractured rib. Petersen said crews took precautions for a possible spinal injury as well.
"It's unbelievable to me. These women have angels watching over them," Petersen said.
Hill came away with a minor knee injury and said she's had worse happen to her.
"I"ll be OK," she said. "We were very lucky there were so many people up there. Very, very lucky."
Gonzalez said early-morning skiing in the spring time is best. He said to ski prepared "and always have your beacons."
Hill said they had the appropriate equipment to be in the back country, including a pickaxe and whippet ski poles, but she lost them during the fall.
Contributing: Pat Reavy and Sandra Yi
Email:wleonard@ksl.com
