On Christmas Eve, a family snowmobile trip through Utah's stunning Franklin Basin turned perilous when one of the two brothers became buried beneath the snow during a sudden avalanche. The brothers, along with their father, were riding through Steep Hollow when the avalanche was triggered. Toby Weed, a forecaster with the Utah Avalanche Center, recounted the harrowing details: "The avalanche carried both the rider and his sled down the slope for around 150 yards and through a group of trees."
The younger brother, Braeden Hansen, had pulled slightly ahead on their trek and witnessed the avalanche as it hit his older brother, Hunter. On noticing the snow ripple downward, Braeden quickly realized they were caught in an avalanche. "It just washed me down the mountain, the most violent thing I've ever felt," Hunter later shared with NBC News. "I couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything. I slammed against something — maybe it was rock or trees."
While Braeden managed to escape the avalanche's grasp, Hunter was not as fortunate. Buried entirely under the snow with only his gloved fingers visible, rescue would depend on Braeden's quick actions. Below the avalanche, their father attempted to reach his sons but found the snow too unsupportive, forcing him to switch his avalanche transceiver to search mode to locate Hunter.
Undeterred, Braeden activated Hunter's beacon, which guided him closer to his older brother. “The young brother used his transceiver and an effective search pattern to first attain a signal,” reported Weed. Once Braeden was close enough to see the gloved fingers of Hunter's hand sticking out from the compacted snow, he set to work digging him out. With each scoop of snow, Braeden talked to his brother, reassuring him as he struggled to breathe and remain conscious. Addressing the tense moment, Hunter recalled, "I found him, I found him," as his brother unearthed him from the snow.
Reflecting on their narrow escape, Hunter recalls feeling his brother diligently shovel the snow covering his head. Their bond turned lethal circumstances from tragic to miraculous as Braeden eventually freed him entirely. Their dual push against the odds exemplified brotherly love. Both brothers would emerge from the incident showing only minor injuries, with Hunter sustaining what might be fractures and bruises. They were also able to ride out together, returning home to their families as if returning from combat rather than climbing mountains.
Fortunately, there was no tragedy. Though the reality was quite stark; on average, avalanches claim 27 lives each year across the United States, with conditions present on Christmas Eve indicating, as Weed stated, "considerable avalanche danger on northerly facing slopes at upper elevations." He advised enthusiasts to exercise caution during backcountry exploration, particularly under the forecast issued just before the holiday weekend, warning of hazardous conditions.
Weed later reflected on the dangerous circumstances surrounding Christmas Eve, commenting, "Those guys had a very, very lucky Christmas Eve. Luckily, all members of the family made it back okay." A follow-up inspection on December 26 found Hunter's snowmobile severely damaged — the sled bent and broken amid the debris of trees from the avalanche. The family had been fortunate; the airbag deployed to protect Hunter, adding another layer to the narrative of escape against all odds.
While the family celebrated Christmas together back home, Hunter expressed gratitude over his special return: "I feel very blessed and lucky." Their adventure, which could have turned tragic, instead became one of survival, bound tightly with the spirit of family. The tale of Braeden and Hunter Hansen emphasizes the importance of avalanche safety and staying alert to changing environmental conditions, especially for winter sports enthusiasts. The conclusion of their story serves as both cautionary and celebratory, reminding outdoor adventurers to stay vigilant.
