Backcountry Utah snowmobilers got a bigger winter thrill than they bargained for when they were buried by a massive avalanche over the weekend.
POV footage of the terrifying incident has since gone viral on social media.
“As I turned and looked up I could see the snow wave coming,” wrote Draper’s Miles Penrose with an Instagram video post of the harrowing incident, which was shot by his buddy Nate Carlon.
Penrose and five friends had reportedly been shredding the slopes in eastern Utah’s Uinta Mountains — an area he was reportedly familiar with — on Saturday when the avalanche occurred, local radio station KSL reported.
Despite bringing avalanche backpacks, radios and beacons, the adventurers were caught completely unaware.
Warning: Graphic language in video below.
In the terrifying footage, the colossal snow slide can be seen barreling down the mountain at a high velocity as the petrified snowmobilers scramble to escape. Unfortunately, the avalanche engulfs the cameraman in a flash, causing the screen to fade to black.
The frozen erosion buried three of the thrill seekers up to their chests, while one was completely covered by the snow, KSL reported.
Fortunately, all four were able to extricate themselves sans suffering any serious injuries. However, one of their friends was entombed for a whole three minutes before he managed to dig out an air pocket and thrust his hand up through the snow for his friends to see.
“Extremely grateful for the outcome of the events this weekend,” wrote Nate Carlon on Instagram, adding that the ordeal was “an extreme learning experience.”
In the aftermath of the incident, Utah police posted a Facebook PSA warning people to “avoid the backcountry where the avalanche danger is high.”
The group should thank their lucky stars. That same day, four skiers died after being inundated by an avalanche in the same area, Drumpe reported.
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