When the avalanche started I threw myself on my back and spread my arms to try to keep from sinking.

Fortunately, though the grade of the canyon is very steep, it is not interrupted by precipices large enough to cause outbounding or free plunging.

On no part of the rush was I buried.

I was only moderately imbedded on the surface or at times a little below it, and covered with a veil of back-streaming dust particles; and as the whole mass beneath and about me joined in the flight there was no friction, though I was tossed here and there and lurched from side to side.

When the avalanche swedged and came to rest I found myself on top of the crumpled pile without bruise or scar.