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Browning Residents Survive Deadly Avalanche, Recount Terrifying Experience

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Mar 15, 2010 at 5:18 PM MST

Story Updated: Mar 15, 2010 at 7:30 PM MST

A group of Montanans are lucky to be alive after surviving an avalanche that killed two men. The avalanche happened on Saturday at an informal snowmobile rally in British Columbia. NewsChannel 5 spoke with one of the survivors about his terrifying experience.

30 people were injured, one critically in the avalanche. Police say they believe the slide was triggered by a snowmobiling stunt known as high-marking, a contest to see who can race up the slope and leave the highest mark.

James Bond from Browning, who survived the avalanche, says he travels to the big event every year with eight of his friends. But he says this year will most likely be his last.

Bond tells NewsChannel 5 it was a scene of chaos over the weekend, as several people became trapped under the avalanche without any time to react. He says within six to seven seconds of seeing the avalanche he was buried under the snow and the pressure was unbearable. He could not move and would later find out that a snowmobile was on top of his body.

Bond says after his experience this weekend, the danger of avalanches is now all too real. He says his days of snowmobiling have come to an end.

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