Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 38°
Avalanche
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Avalanche Type
- Hard Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 122 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- North
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3109 m
Incident
- Number Caught
- 1
- Number Carried
- 1
- Number Injured
- 1
- Number Partly Buried
- 1
Skier triggered large, deep slab avalanche and was carried over cliffs, received injuries apparently to pelvis and femur. Two avalanche professionals happened to be nearby and responded (Chris Covington from UDOT and Chantele (sp?), an off duty patroller from Snowbird who was skiing on her day off). He was evacuated by Wasatch Backcountry Rescue using a medical helicopter. (more details to follow)
The slide occurred on the steep, north side of Cardiff Peak. This area avalanched earlier in the season, so it is what we call a "repeater". Apparently, the party was knowledgeable and experienced. The victim was visiting from Switzerland. They stuck to the ridge to avoid the hazard on the steep slope below, but the victim dropped his jacket in the strong wind and it blew down the slope. He descended the ridge and traversed out onto the slope to retrieve his jacket when he triggered the avalanche. The avalanche descended over a large cliff.
This is a preliminary report and we will write up a more complete accident investigation as more details become available.