SAR NEWS: New Hampshire - Two Climbers ride avalanche 800 feet down Mt. Washington

"Injuries included a broken pinky finger, a sprained ankle, a bruised pelvis, and various lacerations and abrasions."

Two men ride avalanche 800 feet down Mt. Washington
April 14, 2009 Noon

(Globe File Photo)

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

A Massachusetts man and his climbing partner were caught in an avalanche and tumbled about 800 feet down a slope on Tuckerman Ravine at New Hampshire's Mount Washington last weekend but sustained only minor injuries, US Forest Service rangers said.

Tim Finocchio of Holbrook and Daniel Zucker of Danville, Vt., were "incredibly fortunate," the rangers said in an incident summary by the forest service's Mount Washington Avalanche Center.

"Ironically, the avalanche which caused their fall likely helped protect them from more significant injuries as they probably rode on the debris cushion to their resting point. � That they were able to walk themselves down from an incident such as this is remarkable to say the least," the report said.

Finocchio and Zucker, who were described in the report as "athletic and experienced mountaineers," were climbing Saturday in an area known as "Dodge's Drop" when they were enveloped by the avalanche, the report said.

The avalanche carried them over a small cliff (Zucker told rangers it felt like he was airborne for "three heartbeats") and then into a treed slope below, where they came to rest on top of the snow in the trees.

"They managed to pass through the rocky section of the fall unscathed, with the injuries being sustained only after being carried into the trees," the rangers reported.

The men, whose injuries included a broken pinky finger, a sprained ankle, a bruised pelvis, and various lacerations and abrasions, were taken to a ranger cabin where they were more thoroughly assessed and treated, then back to their car so they could drive to a local hospital, the report said.

Neither Finocchio nor Zucker could immediately be reached for comment.

Source: Boston.com - Link