snowmachiner says , buddies dug moose out of avalanche in hatcher pass sean doogan
january 1, 2015
snowmachiners rob uphus , marty mobley, along avery vucinich (not pictured), found moose buried in avalanche @ hatcher pass on dec. 28. after freed moose, ran away , appeared dazed uninjured, mobley said.
moose caught in avalanche in hatcher pass may have 3 passing snowmachiners thank making new year.
men dug moose -- young cow, think -- out of snow, apparently unharmed, after caught in avalanche dec. 28. 1 of men, marty mobley, 44, said moose caused slide swallowed , without group's help, not have survived.
"there enough of snout sticking above snow breathe," mobley said.
mobley said , friends rob uphus, 30, , avery vucinich, 27 -- of them valley residents -- had gone snowmachining on willow side of hatcher pass, 55 miles northeast of anchorage, in area known locals "god's country." rode carefully, said, because of constant fear of avalanches. mobley's best friend, aaron arthur, killed along 5 others while snowmachining in turnagain pass on march 21, 1999.
saw small bowl covered in moose tracks. ski tracks easy spot -- mobley said doesn't see in area.
"we figured scared moose off , saw tracks go side , on crest," mobley said.
hour later, coming through same area, trio saw avalanche had come down in bowl, obliterating both moose , ski tracks. mobley said men worried skier got caught in slide, took closer look, nervous possibility of more avalanches.
"we had 2,500 feet of mountain above still," mobley said. "half slid, half didn’t, didn’t want screw around bunch there."
mobley said got closer, see brown , moving sticking above hard-packed snow of avalanche debris field.
"it looked guy's arm @ first because expecting see skier," mobley said. "but moaning , groaning , moving , realized moose, though ears , of snout sticking out of snow."
mobley said men grabbed shovels , began dig moose out of snow. mobley said didn’t move worked , seemed calmer cleared snow away. mobley said 2 men dug while other served avalanche lookout.
"it didn’t fight us," mobley said. "it like, 'help me. me.' totally docile , let touch it. (lay) there," mobley said.
after 10 minutes of digging, mobley said, men able free three-quarters of animal , weren't sure if injured. 1 of men gently poked moose's backside shovel.
"it stood right , towered on us, because in kind of hole digging," mobley said. "it looked abominable snowman because fur packed snow , looked @ us, shook snow off it, , off went."
mobley said moose "at full steam" when ran down mountain , appeared uninjured, surprised men.
"it slid @ least 1,500 2,000 feet down mountain when got caught in avalanche," mobley said.
mobley said trio on moose rescue act hope repaid nature continue ride snowmachines in alaska's unpredictable backcountry.
"i animal lover, , couldn’t leave there," mobley said. "besides, deal lot of avalanches , lot of snow. kind of karma don’t pass up."
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