OPHIR, Colo. (CBS4) – A major avalanche was triggered in the Ophir backcountry Wednesday when two brothers were skiing a popular route. 
 
 Brian Holmes, 26, and Alex Holmes, 27, were skiing from Trout Lake to Ophir and were on top of the Fatwa area when Brian began his decent, triggering an avalanche. Alex witnessed the massive slide sweep his brother down the mountain and out of sight. 
 
 Alex tried to ski down to search for his brother, but that triggered a second avalanche. He did not feel it was safe enough to continue and so he skied back to Trout Lake to call for help. 
 
 San Miguel County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched just after 1 p.m., and Search and Rescue volunteer launched a helicopter. 
 
 During the mission, dispatchers reported that they received calls from a cellphone belonging to Brian Holmes coming from the area of the slide. Breathing could be heard, but no further communication was established. 
 
 Brian said he was able to pull himself out of the slide after being carried an estimated 1,000 feet down the mountain, ultimately landing on his back and mostly buried in snow with only his face and an arm exposed. 
 
 He said it took about 15 minutes to get out, then he began searching for his brother, who he thought was dead. 
 
 After searching and attempting to call 911 for an hour, Brian made his way down to the Town of Ophir, reaching deputies at about 2 p.m. 
 
 Brian was assessed at the Telluride Medical Center and treated for non-life threatening injuries. 
 
 “The San Juans in general can represent some of the most tenuous snow conditions on the continent. Given the circumstances and nature of the slide, this skier is extremely fortunate,” said Sheriff’s Deputy Todd Rector who led the operation. ||||| Younger brother swept away but digs himself out while distraught older brother goes for help 
 
 A look to the East above Ophir, Colo., the small town sits at 9600' in elevation in the middle of the valley. ( Special to the Denver Post ) 
 
 Two brothers from Ophir survived a massive avalanche Wednesday in the San Miguel County backcountry after one of them was swept away and buried. 
 
 Alex Holmes, 27, saw his 26-year-old brother, Brian, get swept away by a giant avalanche while the two were skiing from Trout Lake to Ophir on a popular trail near Waterfall Canyon, according to a news release by Susan Lilly, spokeswoman for the San Miguel County Sheriff's Department. 
 
 "Given the circumstances and nature of the slide, this skier is extremely fortunate," said sheriff's deputy Todd Rector, who led the rescue operation. 
 
 Alex Holmes was watching his brother begin to ski down the slope when Brian Holmes triggered an avalanche. Brian Holmes was swept out of sight in the Fatwa area, the news release says. 
 
 When Alex Holmes initially tried to ski down to search for his brother, he triggered a second avalanche. Feeling it wasn't safe to continue, he skied back to Trout Lake and called for help. 
 
 Brian Holmes said he was able to dig himself out of the snow after being carried about 1,000 feet down the slide and landing on his back, mostly buried in snow. 
 
 His entire body except for his face and one arm were under the snow. It took him about 15 minutes to dig out. He then began searching for his brother, who he thought was dead. 
 
 Deputies were dispatched about 1 p.m. 
 
 During the ongoing mission, dispatchers received calls from a cellphone belonging to Brian Holmes. They heard someone breathing, but no further communication was established. 
 
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 Brian Holmes made his way to the town of Ophir. He was taken to the Telluride Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening. 
 
 Rector said it was not surprising that an avalanche was triggered. "The San Juans in general can represent some of the most tenuous snow conditions on the continent," Rector said. 
 
 Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, kmitchell@denverpost.com or @kirkmitchell or denverpost.com/coldcases
– Two brothers got a major pre-Thanksgiving scare when they both believed the other to have died in an avalanche while skiing the Colorado backcountry Wednesday, 9News reports. Alex Holmes, 27, was watching as his brother Brian, 26, triggered an avalanche and was hit by the wave of snow. According to the Denver Post, Alex tried to ski down to rescue his brother but decided it was too dangerous after he triggered a second slide. A San Miguel County sheriff's deputy calls the area in the San Juan Mountains "some of the most tenuous snow conditions on the continent." Believing his brother dead, Alex went to get help. Unbeknownst to Alex, Brian was alive but mostly buried in snow 1,000 feet down the hill, the Post reports. According to 9News, it took Brian—with only his face and one arm unburied—15 minutes or so to dig himself free. "Given the circumstances and nature of the slide, this skier is extremely fortunate," the sheriff's deputy says. CBS Denver reports Brian searched for Alex while attempting to call 911 for an hour with no luck. Brian—who similarly believed his brother was dead—made it to a nearby town before the rescue team alerted by Alex could find him.