GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. -- Three climbers escaped serious injury after an avalanche on Mount Hood on Saturday morning.

A wall of snow broke off from a rock formation and swept the climbers 350 feet down the mountain, authorities said.

One of the climbers, 18-year-old Ian Metcalf, became trapped waist-deep in the snow. He suffered only minor scrapes, cuts and bruises. Rescuers said it was fortunate that Metcalf had his head out of the snow when he became trapped.

The two other climbers -- Dan Purkey, of Eugene; and Doyle Allies, of Turner; -- tumbled with the avalanche, but weren't hurt.

Clackamas County deputies said Powell McLean, a mountain rescuer from the state of Washington, happened to be on the mountain at the time of the avalanche. McLean climbed back up to help Metcalf out of the snow.

The avalanche in the Pearly Gates area of the mountain was reported by another climber just after 11:30 a.m. A Clackamas County search and rescue team and an American Medical Response rescue team responded. They reached the climbers and helped them down the mountain.