Skier resuced after spending the night in winter storm

A skier was rescued Saturday (3/1/14) after a skiing out of bounds at Durango Mountain Resort at purgatory, according to a spokesman with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office.

Public Information Officer Dan Bender said Alex Magennis, 42, was found cold and exhausted in a remote part of Hermosa Creek drainage during a snow storm.

Magennis texted his wife Friday that he afternoon that had skied out of bounds and she contacted ski patrol, according to Bender.

The Sheriff’s Office said that by 5:30 p.m. Friday 20 members of La Plata County Search and rescue were looking for Magennis.

Bender said searchers followed Magennis ski tracks and found a what appeared to be a snow shelter and then continued on, leaving behind an avalanche probe pole, shovel, and survival blanket.

Magennis was found at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday where crews gave him food and warm clothing and helped him down the trail to meet a horse team from La Plata County Mounted Patrol.

They were able to make it down to Hermosa Creek Campground by Saturday afternoon where Magennis was reunited with his family.