Incident

Avalanche: Coliseum

Chase Morrell, UAC staffLogan
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Quick report

Slope Angle
40°

Avalanche

Slab Width
152 m
Weak Layer
Facets
Trigger Type
Snowmobiler
Vertical Fall
213 m
Avalanche Type
Hard Slab
Slab Thickness
122 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
East
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Start Zone Elevation
2774 m

A close call, especially considering that there was a group of riders at the bottom of the hill when the avalanche occurred. A single rider was cresting the slope and triggered the avalanche in an area where the slab (and the snow depth) was shallow. Most of the riders in the flats were able to get out of the way, but one rider wasn't. He was caught, partially buried, and injured. There were lots of people around who helped rescue the rider and dig out the deeply buried sled.

Incident

Number Caught
1
Number Carried
1
Number Injured
1
Number Partly Buried
1

Hi! There was a group of riders sitting at the bottom eating lunch and another snowmobiler not part of their group climbed the hill, and right as he crested the top, it broke right below him.

Guys at the bottom saw it coming and one guy couldn’t get out of the way in time and got partially buried and knocked out his front teeth. Buried his sled