Kate and I had an exciting Christmas break flying to Colorado for skiing. The first day out 12/26/06 skiing at Loveland, we saved a person who Kate noticed unconcious in the trees. The rest of the week we enjoyed skiing Loveland, Cooper and the Tennessee Pass backcountry. A trip that will never be forgotten! 12 days out to date for me and 10 for Kate.
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My husband and I were lucky enough to plan a last minute trip to Colorado for Christmas.
On Dec. 26 2006 we were skiing at Loveland pass. Having a great day, skiing was excellent, breathing was hard. Meet snowbeard at the lodge, Hello. Nice to meet you.
We decided at 3ish it was last run. Back at the base we said one more. Road lift #1 and dropped in on Spillway. Were the trail splits I decided to stop and watch my husband ski (freedan). I stood looking uphill waiting. For some reason something made me turn around and look into the cluster of trees behind me.
In a snow ditch at the bottom of a tree I could see something. For a moment my mind could not figure out what I was looking at.
It was a red ski helmet, black base of skies and red parka twisted around a tree. The body was not moving.
I started to yell HELP, Help, I need Help. The only person to respond was my husband Dan. As he skied up the hill to me and say the person, He told me to go to base and get help. He is trained in First Aid, I am not. I skied off to find help.
As Dan approached the person, the helmet and goggles were pushed down over his face but he could see that his face and lips were blue. He was not breathing. Danny had to clear the air way and hoped it would not paralyze him. When Dan removed his chin from his chest the man took a breath on his own. The color started to return to his face. He was gasping and having a lot of trouble but he was breathing. Dan was holding his shoulders bracing the neck and head with his knees and arms, yelling at the guy to keep breathing. He stopped breathing several times. Dan was trying to get help from the people skiing buy, No one would help. Finally someone with a cell called 911 then the base.
I skied to lift #4. This lift starts at mid mountain; I thought that I could get help fast than returning to base. The lift guys were great as I tried to explain where I was and breathe. They had no map to show them and I did know the names of the trail or # of the lift I was on. I explained the lift I was on, short and shelter, first lift at base. They radioed to help. Soon a ski patroller showed up with a map and I could show him were he was with certainty. They sent a snow mobile for me so I could bring them back to the location.
When I arrived back, there were at least 5 snow mobiles and 10 ski patroller with my husband working on the man. They were all encouraging him to breath and telling the guy he was doing great. I was surprise he was alive. It was a difficult place to get him in a basket and to get the basket out of. Soon they were on the trail with him and off. I am SO impressed with the Loveland Ski Patrol; they are first rate all the way.
I hugged Dan and it all felt like a dream. I got a ride back to my skis then to the base where Danny was waiting writing up the report. Then we found out Life Flight could not get there due to high winds, the ambulance would meet them down I70. This was bad news. We finished our reports as patrollers walked by and said Thanks and thumbs up.
We headed back to Georgetown to our room. The guy’s injuries were very bad and we did not have a lot of hope. I even thought at least his family can say goodbye rather than getting the call that he was found dead on the mountain. I could not sleep that night. When I closed my eyes all I say was the twisted body and all the people I asked to help that would do nothing.
On December 27 we returned and head to the patrol office. The head patroller was there and gave us the amazing news. Kim was alive and doing well. His back was broken but there was no neurological damage. He was messed up but going to be OK. It was hard to believe. We were bouncing off the walls. He was alive, not paralyzed, going to be OK, Wow. It was a good day!!!!!
Luck made me look and see him but if Danny was not with me or trained, that guy was dead. I would have watching him die waiting for help.
I am so proud of my husband Dan I can not put it into words.
Please ski safe, wear a helmet and paint it red. Do not ski alone if possible and go get first aid training, I am.
Thanks for reading.
Kate E Mosny
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