Avalanche: Pioneer Peak

One snowboarder with about 4 years backcountry experience and one skier with about 6 years both with beacons, shovels, and probes were hiking from Brighton resort today to ski pioneer peak. There had been 3 other skiers that had ridden the same area the day before and their tracks were still visible. Hiking up it was windy and starting to lightly snow and there were sections of 6-12" of wind deposited snow in the previous skiers bootpack on the way up. It was a moderate forecast day. The snowboarder had never ridden this area dropped in and stopped after approx. 50' to inspect the run. Skier had ridden peak 5-10 times in the past. Skier came down on the west ridge to give advice and avoid triggering anything on top of him. The face had a large amount of wind deposited snow. After about 30 seconds of standing the whole face fractured and carried the snowboarder over 1000'. The snowboarder was able to swim to stay afloat and was taken of a 10' cliff which helped reset him on top of the snow. The snowboarder was not buried. Skier witnessed around was able to visually locate snowboarded after shortly after the slide had stopped moving. No airbags/avalungs were carried. Brighton ski patrol was advised and the debris were beacon searched for other possible victims.