Source: Denver Post 
Author: Katherine Vogt, Special to The Denver Post
Contact:  
Fax: (303) 820-1369
Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jan 1998
Website: http://www.denverpost.com 

RESCUED MAN NOW FACING POT CHARGES

Jan. 23 - Christian George, the 30-year-old snowmobiler who survived four
days in a blizzard near Steamboat Springs last week, was arrested early
Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell.

Larimer County Sheriff's deputies who responded at 2:12 a.m. to a report of
a person shouting in the street near George's home in the small town of
Wellington found him "acting in a bizarre manner,'' according to a police
report.

As they took him into custody, deputies found evidence that marijuana was
being grown in George's home. They obtained a search warrant and found more
than a half-pound of marijuana, enough to merit a felony charge. Growing
lamps for plants and several guns were also found, police said. They kept
the guns for inspection as a routine measure. 9News reported Thursday night
that while deputies were removing the evidence, a package containing a case
of Snickers bars was delivered to the house from the Mars Candy Co. George
had previously told reporters that he had survived his mountain ordeal with
two cigarette lighters to start fires and a king-sized Snickers bar for food.

"We had no prior suspicion of George,'' said Undersheriff John L.
Kammerzell. He said he was not aware if George had any prior criminal
record. George is being held for 72 hours at a mental health facility for
evaluation.

Kammerzell said Wellington, a town of about 1,300 people just north of Fort
Collins, and surrounding communities are no different than other rural
areas in Colorado in terms of the frequency and seriousness of drug-related
arrests. George made headlines Jan. 15 when he was rescued after 92 hours
on Buffalo Creek Pass during a blizzard that dumped 7 feet of snow.

He had become separated from his companions during the storm and hiked
about 6 miles of steep terrain during the ordeal. He was rescued after a
helicopter equipped with an infrared detection device spotted his fire.

He was in remarkably good shape with few signs of exposure. He was praised
for his outdoor savvy and ability to stay calm in a life-threatening
situation.