I set off this R4 D2 slide on Hoyt Peak today and got caught. Prior and up above I safely ski cut and sluffed out the slope in the very steep terrain. I have been watching this slope all season and it had not yet slid which is unusual. I was hoping the snowpack had bridged the covered rock band in the top third of the slope and in fact I was right. Although I had already sluffed out the slope, I made the mistake of thinking the slope would not slab out on me or if it did I would be able to get off to the side quick enough. After carefully skiing the 50+ degree terrain up top I straight ran the even steeper covered rock band. Once I cleared the rock band and now on lower angle prime avalanche terrain, I made the mistake of checking a little speed which resulted in the slab pulling out. I lost a pole, goggles and my dignity but left with my life, my skis, my hat, a pole and my pack.



