Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 61 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 183 m
- Avalanche Type
- Hard Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 91 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northwest
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3109 m
Incident
- Number Caught
- 2
- Number Carried
- 2
- Number Fully Buried
- 1
- Number Partly Buried
- 1
This avalanche was spied by Brighton Snow Safety Malia Bowman and UAC forecaster Drew Hardesty Saturday early afternoon while investigating another skier triggered slide in HIdden Canyon (INFO) from Friday Jan 2. Malia Bowman (Brighton snow safety) and co-worker Max McNeil (patrol director) investigated the debris and found two burial holes, one with blood.
On Friday, January 2nd, two young skiers, age 17 and 18, ducked a rope out of bounds below the Great Western lift and entered Hidden Canyon in search of fresh powder snow. They successfully skied one lap and took the lift for a second lap. On their second lap in Hidden Canyon (after again ducking the rope), the two triggered a 2-4' deep and 200' wide avalanche, and were caught and carried 500 feet down the slope. Skier A was critically buried, head down in the snow, with only a portion of his ski boot sticking out. Skier B was partially buried. Skier B extracted himself from the snow and, reportedly with the help of witnesses, helped extract Skier A from the debris. Neither sustained any significant injuries and were able to walk out to safety. While both skiers were season pass holders and knew the Hidden Canyon terrain, neither skier had any avalanche rescue gear.