Skier Nick McNutt was buried in an avalanche. What happened in the next five minutes saved his life.
“I don’t have a signal either. Is his transceiver not on?” “We need all hands on deck now!” Their confidence was crushed. The most essential avalanche rescue tool, fundamental to their training scenarios, was suddenly useless. They’d have to find him using other means: pole-like probes and shovels. If they didn’t find him in 15 or 20 minutes, he likely wouldn’t survive. They were approaching the two-minute mark. No way, McIntosh said to himself. This can’t be how Nick McNutt dies. They thrust their probes into the snow, guessing at which bit of debris he lay beneath. Lusten...