Family, Friends Mourn Hiker Who Died

Amanda Butterfield and Carole Mikita Reporting A Utah high schooler, airlifted off Big Cottonwood Canyon, is healing from a hiking accident tonight. But the family of the friend who went with him is mourning.

James Henrie didn't make it back.

The two boys were best friends, but one of them did not make it down alive. Both families spoke tonight with KSL about what happened.

The young man who did survive is recovering at U-Med. He's going to okay. His friend who died-- here's how his family will remember him.

Rees Hansen/Uncle: "James enjoyed outdoor athletic things that you would expect from a 17 year old."

James Henrie played rugby, he ran, and cycled. He was as active as-- if not more so than-- any other teen. But he was also sensitive.

Rees Hansen/Uncle: "He never lost the tender spot."

Rees Hansen/ Uncle: "He would always have time to pay attention to younger counsins and siblings."

And he was best friends with Eric Fogg.

The two went hiking Monday up to the Twin Peaks area of Big Cottonwood Canyon. They made it to the top just fine, but when they were heading down, things got ugly.

Doug Fogg/Father: "It appears they got in an area technically more difficult than they were able to deal with."

Melting snow made it slick and dangerous. As the two were coming down, Eric slipped and fell 200 feet.

Sgt. Mike Morgan/Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office: "He was very fortunate. He was able to stop somewhere along the slide."

Sgt. Mike Morgan/Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office: "It was quite a distance where they fell. It was a very steep area."

James wasn't so fortunate. He slipped 400 feet, and died. Eric could see his friend on a ledge and called 911.

Sgt. Mike Morgan/Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office: "It was a very dangerous rescue."

So dangerous, they had to wait until morning to recover James' body.

Sgt. Mike Morgan/Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office: "It's very steep. We have a lot of shelly rock, five feet of snow, water runoff from the snow that's being melted up there."

Doug Fogg/Father: "These kids are best friends, love th mountains, spend a lot of time in the mountains. Very experienced climbers."

Eric is alert. He has leg and head injuries, and his family says he hasn't talked to them about what happened.

And though the Fogg family knows how lucky their son was, they're grieving too.

Doug Fogg/Father: "James was considered one of our own and we will miss him dearly."

Doug Fogg/Father of Injured Hiker: "It's a tragic accident, but this is their backyard. This is where they grew up. This is what they know and enjoy."

The two were best friends, and just finished up their Junior year at Brighton High School.

Family, friends and classmates are mourning the sudden loss of James Henrie. A community is grieving a young man many describe as "one of the good guys."

That ready smile came at the top of a very tall, 6'4" and striking teenager. James Henrie loved sports and the outdoors... rugby, running, hiking.

But he had quite a soft spot for his family. The Henrie's sent their oldest son, John William, on an LDS mission a few months ago. So James became the big brother at home and they had also recently adopted a little girl from China, Libbie Mae. James was very protective of her.

Rees Hansen/ James Henrie's uncle: "Every young man wanted to be his friend. Every young lady wanted to date James and every mother wanted a boy like James for their son. That may sound like we're laying it on a little too thick, but that's really the way he was."

"And I think every boy wanted to have a brother like James. You know, James and Marshall and Tanner and John William. I don't think I've ever seen four boys who are closer brothers than these guys are."

Eric Fogg is expected to make a full recovery. He hopes to be out of the hospital soon, so that he can be there for James Henrie's funeral. That service has not been scheduled yet, probably the end of the week.

(The Associated Press Contributed to this story)

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