Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 39°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 61 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 183 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 61 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Remotely Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2926 m
On the day of the accident, the avalanche danger was rated CONSIDERABLE on the slope where this avalanche occurred. Friday's avalanche forecast is available HERE.
Incident
- Number Caught
- 2
- Number Carried
- 2
- Terrain Summary
- <p> The High Dutch slope is along the Park City Ridgeline, outside of the Park City Mountain Resort boundary. In this case, it was accessed by skiers ducking the ropeline. </p> <p>Dutch Draw slope has been the site of multiple fatal avalanches, including incidents in <a href="https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/57388">January 2021</a>, <a href="https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/48937">December 2019</a>, <a href="https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/18180">February 2012</a>, and <a href="https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/17436">January 2005.</a></p> <p>The party was traversing a slope with an estimated steepness of 30-35 degrees when the avalanche was remotely triggered from below. The slide released approximately 200 feet above in steeper terrain. Near the summit, the slope steepens to 38-40 degrees, where the avalanche crown was located. </p> <p> </p> <p> Classification for this avalanche is SS-ASr-R1D2-O</p> <p>Avalanche crown slope angle: Approx 39 degrees</p> <p>Burial location: 40.65548, -111.59179 </p>
- Weather Summary
- <p> A quick-moving winter storm moved into the region on the morning of February 7. Warm temperatures at the storm's onset reached the upper 20s Fahrenheit and dropped throughout the day, reaching the single digits by the following morning. By the end of the day on February 7, the storm had dropped 10-12 inches of snow (1-1.5 inches of SWE) along the Park City Ridgeline. Partly cloudy skies greeted the morning of February 8.</p> <p>Moderate to strong winds accompanied the storm, blowing 10-20 mph from the west and gusting to 45 mph. By the morning of February 8, the winds diminished slightly to 5-10 mph from the west-northwest, gusting up to 20 mph. </p> <p> </p>
- Number Fully Buried
- 1
- Number Partly Buried
- 1
The three skiers who triggered the slide had ascended about halfway up the hike above the 9990' lift before ducking a rope and traversing mid-slope. Their traverse tracks are visible in the attached photo.
The group, all equipped with rescue gear, stopped at the first red circle and observed a snowboarder riding below them. (See annotated photo below) After waiting for about a minute, the first two skiers traversed to the second red circle, triggering an avalanche roughly 200 feet above them. The third skier remained on the edge of the slide and was not caught.
One skier, a female, was fully buried, reportedly in a vertical position. Her partner was partially buried but managed to self-extricate and begin a beacon search. The initial beacon reading was 2.0, with the lowest reading at 0.5. The buried skier had her arm above her head, which helped rescuers locate her hand quickly. A group of four individuals at the top of the lift, who had two-way radio communication with the victims, ducked a rope and skied down to assist with the dig-out.
The buried skier reported that the avalanche came in "two waves." She believed the first wave originated from the skier’s left and attempted to point her skis downhill to avoid being buried. As she was coming to a stop, the second wave buried her. During this time, she extended her arm upward, which aided in her quick recovery.
The partially buried skier immediately initiated a beacon search. A group of four at the lift received radio communication and skied down to assist. Rescuers first located the buried skier’s hand, allowing them to clear snow around her head before continuing to dig. She was successfully extricated without reported injuries.
Annotated avalanche image - red circle represents party 1
At 1:15 PM, one burial was confirmed by witnesses and PCMR ski patrol. By 1:20 PM, Department of Public Safety was notified, followed by a request for an AirMed flyover at 1:45 PM. At 1:50 PM, PCMR ski patrol made contact with the party, who later skied out at 2:04 PM, stating they were the only group involved. A drone flyover at 2:25 PM confirmed no additional burials.