A skier in South Lake Tahoe is sharing his story after being overtaken by an avalanche in February.
Kyle Johnston hit an untouched back-country slope with his cousin near Blue Lake on February 12th. When Johnston started his run, an avalanche blocked his planned escape path, forcing him off a 100 ft cliff. He blacked out on contact, sustaining five spinal fractures, nine broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a small brain bleed. After being flown to a nearby hospital in Reno and receiving extensive treatment for nearly two weeks, Johnston is now hoping his story serves as a warning to all snow enthusiasts looking to hit uncharted mountains.