Survivor describes deadly avalanche

DURANGO, Colo. (KUSA) - One of the men involved in a deadly avalanche in Silverton over the weekend says the incident was unlike anything you could describe.

Nathan Klema was skiing in the back country with his friends Peter Carver and Duncan Rothwell. Klema accidentally triggered a massive 300-foot-wide avalanche, which swallowed the three men up.

"When I first felt myself sliding and felt the slide break I couldn't tell how big it was. I guess for me, it wasn't so much an avalanche is happening, just everything kind of changed. I felt myself sliding, and I'm pretty sure I heard Peter yelling there was a slide," Klema said.

Klema was able to latch a hold of a tree and eventually get away from the rushing snow. Klema made his way to Rothwell and was able to free him from the aftermath of the avalanche.

Klema then went to search for Carver. He was able to locate him with the help of a tracking beacon. Klema dug five feet in to the snow and found Carver dead.

"I remember being in range where I can talk to Duncan at the time I had uncovered Peter's face," Klema said.

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