We started the next run, the same we started the last few runs, hitting the off trails, everything was going normal, until I took a wrong turn and lost Vince and Jose. I didn't think much of it because it has happened before, usually I just follow the mountain down. So I start following the contours of the mountain. I quickly notice that I'm starting to slow down, I look up and see a slight uphill incline coming up, I know I don't have enough speed to make it up. I come to a complete stop, I look down, I see I can't see my snowboard anymore, it has sunk about a foot into the fresh powder. I try to get my snowboard above the snow, but with every slight wiggle or jump, I only sink more and more into the snow. So at this point I'm kinda annoyed that I have to unstrap and get over this slight hump. The exact moment that I unstrap, I sink into the snow above my waist. Now I think I just need to army crawl to the top of this slight hill and strap back up and head down the mountain. I finally get to the top of this slight hill, and I look out, I see a ravine, a gulch ahead. At this point I know I can't ride down this, the snow is too deep; but I also know I can't climb back up for the same reasons. At this point I start to realize that his situation is a little bit more serious that I previously thought.
I try to to advance down the hill, but every step feel like I'm taking 100 normal steps. I probably only take about 15-20 steps, and by this point I'm exhausted, my throat feel like I'm breathing in razor blades with every breath of freezing air. I finally get down to an opening were it's relatively flat, at point I'm starting to genuinely panic, I starting yelling "help" at the top of my lungs for a around 5 minutes, but I never got a response. I look around I see nothing but snow and thick brush surrounding me. At this moment I also realize that its starting to get pretty dark, my heart starts racing, reality is starting to set in. I take a moment to calm myself down, I take slow and steady breathes, until I finally come down from the panic. After countless hours of watching survival shows (Man vs Wild, Survivor Man, Dual Survivor, etc), I remembered their number one rule, don't panic and analyze the situation.
At this point I check my phone, I had it on airplane mode to conserve battery, I take it off that mode, I receive a couple text messages from a friend. I try to call out to my friends to no avail. So I send them a text message to let them know that I'm lost. Where I'm currently located I don't have a good vantage point so I crawl along the snow, using my snowboard as an anchor to push me forward. I finally get to a place were I think I can have a better vantage point. At this point it crosses my mind that if it gets darker, I might have to stay put and spend the night, rather than risk getting lost even more in the dark. I look around I see a tree that has leaned over and under it there's dry land, and I know if I have too, I'd make my shelter there. The survivor shows also taught me how to make snow shoes out of tree branches, which was another option for me. I lay my snowboard upside down, and climb on top of it to get a scope of whats ahead. I can barely make out what I think is a trail. Now I have to make a decision to either stay and shelter up or try to reach that trail before its dark.
I decide to try and reach the trail. I use the same technique to crawl along the snow using my snowboard as an anchor. After about 20 mins of crawling I finally reach the trail. I notice that its a snowboard trail, and I knew that if I followed it, it would lead to the main trail. I look up and I'm relieved I can see the orange glow of the light from the trail. I can't strap back up and just ride out, the snow is too deep still and its too flat. Luckily the trail has compacted a bit and I'm only sinking past my boots.
I finally reach the main trial, I take a good 10 minutes to collect my composure and catch my breathe. After sitting down, I can hear someone calling my name in the distance, I recognize Vince's voice, and respond to him, I strap back in and head down the mountain to meet up with them. After I reach the bottom I set down again, coming down from the rush of adrenaline gives me a feeling of nausea. I was relieved that I had made it down before dark!
