Paragliding Skier Flies away from Avalanche in Idaho Mountain Town

Sun Valley gets all the attention but Hailey, just down the road, has some pretty impressive peaks that rise right out of town, too. For years, backcountry skiers have carefully plied the slopes above this small Idaho village. Well, Will Burks may have just invented a new avalanche prevention technique there. Watch as he takes three high-speed turns before this slope lets loose, dumping a sizable avalanche into the Big Wood River, as he flies away safely using a paraglider. Check out how close the slide comes to crossing the river and slamming those houses. With all the snow in the West, avalanche danger has been significant. Not a bad backup plan if you’re charging something steep and open.