Couple in Washington state captures avalanche survival on video

A Washington state couple is safe after barely surviving two avalanches. The snow came roaring toward them Saturday in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, northeast of Seattle, reports CBS News' Bigad Shaban.

Incredibly, this was the second avalanche Colby Dotson and his girlfriend Ashley Bechard ran from Saturday afternoon.

"It was thunderous sounds. It sounded like an airplane going over us," Dotson said. "My heart was beating and my mind was racing, if it was going to cover us, it was time to make split second decisions, for sure."

The first avalanche came crashing down just moments earlier. Dotson said his girlfriend was the first to recognize the danger.

"We heard the noise and she was like, 'avalanche,' and turned around and just started running," Dotson said.

The couple and some friends were visiting the Big Four Ice Caves, about two hours northeast of Seattle. People were still inside one of the caves when the avalanches struck.

"I saw like four head lamps and maybe five people kinda running out once the sounds and all of that stuff started," Dotson said.

Avalanches send snow, rocks and debris shooting down mountainsides at speeds of up to 80 mph.

They are blamed for 35 deaths in the U.S. so far this year. In Washington state, 37 people have been killed in the last decade.

The ice caves are a popular destination and visitors are warned about avalanche risks. Falling ice killed an 11-year-old-girl there in 2010.

As the snow and ice tumbled down, Dotson said all he was thinking about was how to survive.

"My dad told me, if I was ever trapped in an avalanche, spit, and then you can find the direction of what's up and what's down," Dotson said. "So honestly, that's what was the first thing in my head."

Dotson feels grateful no one was hurt or killed and he still wants to go back to see the ice caves again. Next time, he just won't get so close.