Avalanche: Mill B south 3/9/2011

Observer Name: 
trentmeisenheimer
Observation Date: 
03/09/2011
Occurrence Date: 
03/09/2011
Occurrence Time: 
2:30pm
Region: 
Salt Lake
Location Name: 
Mill B south
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Location

40° 37' 5.2392" N, 111° 42' 43.4664" W
Avalanche Characteristics
Elevation: 
Unknown
Aspect: 
Northeast
East
Slope Angle: 
40
Trigger: 
Snowboarder
Trigger: additional info: 
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type: 
Wet Loose
Weak Layer: 
Wet grains
Depth (avg): 
unknown
Width: 
400'
Vertical: 
800'
People Involved
Caught: 
1
Carried: 
1
General Comments

Went into Mill B South from the s curvs in BCC. While breaking  trail up, on a steep East facing slope I let the group know to watch out for push alanches. On the up track the green housing was in full effect making the snow surface damp and very heavy. For our first run I was weary of the snow and made sure everyone knew to look out for these sluffs.

I dropped in and made it down about 1/4 of the run and pulled out on some high ground. And not to my suprise I watched the snow start as a small sluff and just get bigger from there. All of our party came to me and I decided to ride down another 1/4 of the hill. Again I made a big sweeping turn to high ground with some trees. While I was waiting for the rest of the group to come down to me, I looked up hill and noticed a four to five foot wall of snow coming right for me. I pointed the board down hill but it was to late it hit me with a lot of power and took me into a stand of thick trees where I got caught, while the main mass washed through.

This avalanche started at my feet, but by the time it was done it was 400-600 feet wide and the debris pile was 10 feet deep in places.

All in all no injuries I did get my pants ripped open though.

This is my ninth season in the backcountry and my first time being in any avalanche. I would advise that everyones goal is to never be caught in one.

LINK TO VIDEO

Video 1: 
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