Info from party: As previously reported ( See Patsy Marley slide Dec 21 info below), his assessment and photos are accurate . As one of the party of 3 that triggered the avalanche, I thought it may be helpful to describe what took place prior to the slide in hopes of helping others not to make the same mistake: First, we should not have been trying to ski this line! All had listen to the mornings Avalanche report and were knowledgeable about yesterdays and last weeks condition, all had shovels, beacons, avalungs. We observed the upper portion of the bowl Thursday and saw that there had been several ski track through it. As we ascended to the ridge we observed three other skier skiing to the west and down to the road, starting at around 35 degrees, but becoming more gradual. As we reached the point of the upper bowl we decided to do some ski cuts, we did two to the east and 2 to the west, skiing one at a time and to a protected spot. It was determined unstable and the skier at the top was advised not to drop in. I was low enough on the ridge that I made a quick ski cut to what appeared to be a less steep pitch. As I went to the west, a small avalanche (bigger than a sluff) knocked me off my feet, I rode for about 25' on top and came to a stop, got up and skied down and behind a tree about 50 yards above the cat track/road. The skier at the top skied a line through the trees and to the east of the small slide I kicked off and stopped to the east of the tree I was behind. The third skier side stepped down until what he thought was a lesser angle slope. He then skied across the small slide and went further to the west than I had skied down, this triggered the large avalanche, that pitched him forward, he rode the slide about 75 yards, past the tree I was behind before coming to a stop about 25 ft. below me. He was partially buried from waist down, but lying flat on this stomach with his face pointing down the hill but out of the snow. His waist down was buried a foot below the surface , which we had to dig him out. He noted that his knee was messed up, but he was able to ski with his weight all on the left ski out to the parking area. We notified the Alta Marshal of these fact, and he said he would report this to the ski patrol, we then went to the Alta Clinic, where it was determined our friend had a torn ACL. Lessons learned: When it doesn't fill right, don't drop in, even with ski cuts, and all we did to try a avoid this from happening. Also, just because there are tracks and others are skiing close by, doesn't mean its safe on the line you choose. Also, for the guy hollering about are mental state ( may have been right on that account) and using a lot of obscenities, it doesn't help, when your trying to dig your friend out, lend a hand! I feel bad this happened, hope to be smarter and listen to the buzzers going off in my mind next time.
