Avalanche: Cardiac Ridge

Forecaster Note: Multiple observations submitted. Combined into one observation. Some details edited for accuracy. An heli-operation skier triggered avalanche - caught and carried with airbag deployment, skier ended up on surface with 1 lost ski. No injuries. EL:

Noticed this slide off Cardiac Ridge while skinning up powerline around noon. It wasn't there when we skied down power outage around 830am. We saw what may have been tracks at the top right of the crown, and three tracks coming out from it down towards the bottom, but didn't see anyone. The slide ran all the way down to the flat terrain below (estimated around 9400'). Took our best guess at estimating the size.

Matt B:

Went up Cardiff pass from Alta this morning, noticed natural activity on Cardiac Ridge on the way to Ivory area. While lapping Ivory, saw the toe of debris from what looked like a large slide below Cardiac Ridge. While skinning back up towards Powerline, passed over the debris pile, scanning for anyone that might have been caught. As the slide started at the ridge line, it was hard to tell if it was human caused or if anyone was involved. Did pick up signals but two passes of the debris pile across, up and down generated no signal distance reduction, telling me the pings were likely unrelated to the slide and my beacon's distance reading was maxed out. Partner and I determined they were likely from a party well below the debris pile and left.

Ben F:

Photo taken at 10:43am from top of Chicken Shit ridge

Matt P photo from LSB Zone