> At a Glance
> – Eric LeMarque survived 8 days lost on Mammoth Mountain in February 2004
> – The former 1994 French Olympic hockey player endured -10°F nights eating only bark and pine nuts
> – Frostbite forced double amputation; now aims for 2026 Paralympics on prosthetics
> – Why it matters: His story shows how elite athletes can rebound from catastrophic wilderness disasters
What started as a quick 3-hour snowboard run turned into a life-or-death ordeal that cost Eric LeMarque his legs and nearly his life.
From Olympic Ice to Frozen Mountain
On February 6, 2004, the 35-year-old former NHL and Olympic hockey player hit the slopes at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area wearing only a light jacket and carrying a dead cell phone and MP3 player.
He told News Of Los Angeles in 2005: “I figured three hours of riding and then I’d hit the Jacuzzi.”
Instead, a sudden storm and darkness left him disoriented on a secluded trail. Over the next eight days, temperatures plunged below -10°F as he:
- Dug a snow cave with his snowboard for shelter
- Ate pine nuts and bark to stay alive
- Used radio signals from his MP3 player as a makeshift compass
- Fought off coyotes by screaming until they fled
The Rescue and Aftermath
On day eight, a helicopter crew spotted LeMarque using infrared imaging to detect his body heat. His core temperature had dropped to 86°F and both feet were black and bleeding from severe frostbite.
Doctors at Sherman Oaks Hospital amputated both legs six inches below the knee due to tissue death.
In his essay for Backpacker, LeMarque recalled:
> “My feet had been my livelihood. They’d taken me to the NHL and the Olympics. What had I done to end up here without them?”
Road to Recovery
After months of prosthetic training, LeMarque:
- Authored memoir Crystal Clear (2009)
- Saw his story adapted into film 6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain (2017)
- Became a motivational speaker on resilience
- Returned to snowboarding on prosthetics
- Launched GoFundMe campaign in late 2024 to fund Paralympic training
Key Takeaways
- Preparation saves lives: LeMarque’s lack of emergency gear nearly proved fatal
- Elite athletes can adapt: He transformed from Olympic hockey player to adaptive snowboarder
- Survival window: Eight days in sub-zero conditions shows human endurance limits
- Second acts: Despite losing both legs, he’s training for 2026 Paralympics
LeMarque now uses his catastrophic mistake to inspire others about wilderness safety and perseverance after tragedy.
