MOUNT HOOD, Ore. -- A Seattle man was recovering after two falling boulders shattered his leg while he was climbing Mt. Hood Sunday.

Kristopher Haskins, 27, waited injured and alone for hours as his climbing partner Jim Prager hiked for help.

"(It was) kind of the 'oh my God' moment of like okay what am I going to do, I don't want to die on the side of a mountain, this is really scary," Haskins told KGW.

Slideshow: Rescue on Hood

Around 4 o'clock Sunday morning, Haskins and Prager were climbing the Sandy Glacier headwall, an area with high rock fall danger according to local mountaineers, when Haskins was hit by two falling boulders, shattering his leg.

"I was just a shocking hit and then I just knew - it's definitely broken," said Haskins.

The men were equipped with first-aid gear and a GPS device but no cellular phone, Haskins said.

Portland Mountain Rescue

Rescuers were airlifted to Sandy Glacier on Mt. Hood to save Kristopher Haskins, 27

Prager helped move Haskins to a safe and clear area, away from any possible falling rocks, made sure he had food and warm clothes, and left to find help.

As he hiked out, Prager ran into a group of off-duty mountain rescuers commemorating the 50th anniversary for Portland Mountain Rescue Association.

The off-duty mountaineers left with Prager, found an area with cell service, and called in the incident.

Meanwhile, Haskins waited alone in the cold mountain morning air.

Portland Mountain Rescue

Rescuers were airlifted to Sandy Glacier on Mt. Hood to save Kristopher Haskins, 27

Clackamas rescuers and on-duty Portland Rescue mountaineers coordinated the rescue.

Rescuers stabilized Haskins and at about 1:30 p.m. he was airlifted by a National Guard Blackhawk helicopter from the Lower Sandy Glacier to Legacy Emanuel Hospital, where he was in fair condition.

Recovering in a hospital bed Monday, Haskins took time to thank his rescuers.

"Without them, I'd probably still be stuck on the side of the mountain with no way to get down."