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Subscribe to RSSMOFFAT COUNTY, Colo. -- Three teenage boys stuck for a night in Routt National Forest in Moffat County during a snowmobiling trip survived through a blizzard and temperatures in the teens by burning what they could -- including a snowmobile -- to stay warm, NBC station KUSA of Denver reports.
Justin McAlexander, 17, Jessie Burke, 17, and Burke's 13-year-old brother, Mason, got stranded Sunday near Freeman Reservoir north of Craig, or about 75 miles by road northeast of Steamboat Springs. They were supposed to return home by 5 that evening, but their snowmobiles got caught in 2 to 3 feet of snow.
See the original story at 9news.com in Denver
"I called in search and rescue and told them where we were," Justin told KUSA. "Then I started digging a pit, which I dug about 6 or 7 feet down. I pulled my friend Jessie in because his foot was frozen and I pulled his little brother into the pit."
Justin said he collected firewood, which he lit inside the pit, and the blaze lasted for about five hours. When that went out, the boys sat in the cold for about two hours, KUSA said.
So Justin took matches from his survival kit and threw a match into the snowmobile's fuel tank, which burned for about two hours, KUSA reported.
"That's the only thing that we've got left to burn," Justin said. "It was gasoline and we all know that gasoline catches fire real quick. So I lit a match dropped it in the tank and figured, if anything, that would give them a big enough flame to see us."
Justin's father, Bruce, told KUSA that with 10 years in Boy Scouts, the group's survival training kept Justin and his friends alive. That's where he had learned to pack a survival kit and how to make a snow pit.
Still, Justin told KUSA, they were afraid.
"We tried to stay calm," Justin told KUSA. "There were some times that we figured that they just stopped looking for us, figured we were dead."
Justin sent text messages throughout the night, although his phone could no longer make calls, KUSA said.
Crews finally reached the three boys about 8 a.m. Monday, about 15 hours after the search began, KUSA reported.
Jessie and Mason were taken to the hospital for observation and were released and are doing fine, KUSA said.
Moffat County Sheriff Tim Jantz told KUSA the three boys did the right thing by staying where they were.
"As far as rescuers, we try to tell people to stay put," Jantz said. "If possible, stay with your vehicle, stay in one location so crews can find you."
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Way to go boys! you did what you had to do!
Smart kids. A lot of kids would have been afraid to torch an expensive machine, figuring their dad would kill them! They understood the gravity of the situation and the stark choices they had to make. Well done, guys.
(Of course, now they will probably be fined by the EPA for unauthorized burning!) Yeah, I am being sarcastic, but a few years ago some of the Unser's (the racing family) got lost on their snowmobiles and were in a life threatening situation. Upon being rescued, they actually were given tickets for straying onto unauthorized land. Leave it to the government.
If I had survived that, my dad would've still killed me.
Well the 1 has been ridding for 10 yrs. What they did not report the 1 snowmobile they burnt lost a piston or something and would not start to get them out. So as the last resort they have been taught to burn the sled. One had a frozen foot the other was no help. So you have a 17 year old 100 lb young man doing it all to keep his friends alive. Good think he paid attention in the Colorado State Parks and Moffat County Search & Rescue cold weather training. The snow came down so fast it covered all but the top of the handle bar of the other machine.
What kind of parent lets their minor children out in conditions like that?
Oh SHUT UP! Jesus Christ!
Ones that realize their minor kids are 17 years old and will be considered adults in the next year and are going to have to be able to rely on themselves and act like adults, and make grown up decisions in the very near future. Too many "kids" are coddled these days, resulting in 14 year olds who have never had to walk (GASP!) to the store or school and 20-somethings who still don't know how to make it on their own. I say good for them - the kids and the parents! While the 13-year old may have been a little young, obviously the parents believed their older kids were responsible enough and could be trusted with him. Make your own parenting decisions, leave other people alone, and stop judging.
Seemingly the kind of parents that raised smart, level headed kids.
God forbid parents let their 17-year old child outside while it's snowing.
Non-Obama supporters with common sense in turning their boys into men and not feminine pansies like most boys are today.
They're not children. The 17 year olds took good care of the 13 year old and themselves. They used their heads and did what they were trained to do in the given situation.
What a bunch of good kids! They used the skills they had been taught and all survived.
This is what living is all about, using your head at all times as bad things can and will happen for most of us. I wish thee boys a fruitful life and hope they teach others from there ordeal. Well done boys~
Smart kid, dumb parents. Weird, usually one begets the other. Not in this case.
What makes the parents dumb?
Good thinking boys!!!! I would've been pissed that they got lost but - you know what??? It would be the best thing in the world to have them home. They did the right thing!!!! Makes me want to provide more survival skills to my kids.
Also, very brave!!!
WAY TO GO GUYS!!!
Thank goodness you had your wits about you and made it thru the night.
This young man will be sucessful in anything he choses to do. Best of luck to him in the future.
He might want to go into chemical engineering to invent a slower burning gasoline.
Life lesson for sure. Andyb- you must live in the city where you don't have the opportunity to explore the widerness. I live in Alaska and kids ride snow machines regularly
Yeah, I agree, it does sorta depend on where you live. Almost all Alaskans learn skills needed outdoors beginning at a young age. They'd better! 'cause you just never know. Any place, like Colorado, where the population is heavily into the outdoor sports, usually kids start young there, learning. Anyway, we know from reading other articles, that adults, even adults who have been schooled in the outdoor arts, sometimes have fatal accidents - like the 3 ski professionals who got caught in an avalanche in Washington State this week. There's no guarantee in this life. You buy your ticket, and you take your chances.
I agree too. I live in Denver and a few years ago, people were snowmobiling on the street in front of my HOUSE! We're used to being outside just playing in the snow. Besides, these boys didn't get lost. They got stranded in snow drifts. Anyone from Colorado can tell you that the snow can come down incredibly fast out of nowhere. The morning can be 50 degrees, a blizzard by dinner time, and blue sky the next day. I carry a ice scraper/snow brush and a shovel in my car year round cuz you just never know in Colorado. These boys were smart and used their training for Colorado winters. Good job boys!
Hi, I was wondering what with GPS and mobiles, why did they need 15 hours to locate them? There was no coverage?
"I called in search and rescue and told them where we were,"
Now that's true wilderness survival!