PARTY OF 3 SKIERS SKIING HIGH SUPERIOR. SUPERIOR HAD BEEN WELL SKIED OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS WITH ONLY MINOR LOOSE SNOW SLUFFS OBSERVED. SKIER DROPPED INTO HIGH SUPERIOR ON SKIER'S RIGHT AND POPPED OUT SOFT SLAB 18" X 60'. HE WENT FOR A CONSIDERABLE RIDE THRU TWO ROCK BANDS OVER 1700' VERTICAL. SKIER MIRACULOUSLY SUSTAINED ONLY MINOR INJURIES AND LOST EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE FRACTURE LINE BUT SUSPECT THAT POWDER SKIING WAS OVER AND HEATING WAS STARTING TO DO IT'S WORK. AS ALWAYS, CONSIDER WHERE THE RIDE WILL TAKE YOU IF YOU GET CAUGHT. -GARSKE

The south face of Superior is a famous, local landmark, which attractively sits between Alta and Snowbird for all to see. It has become an extremely popular backcountry test piece since it's about 3,000 vertical feet and very steep, over 40 degrees in most places in the upper half of the path. There are several rock bands as well.

Tremper

I was in the vicinity of the accident when it occurred. My partner and I noted that east facing slopes had "gone off", or had become affected by the sun and became damp at about 11:30am. This means that the southeast facing slopes would have heated a bit sooner. By 12:30, high elevation north aspects had thickened up as well from the warming. There is no question in my mind that daytime heating played a role in this incident.

Kobernik