Found a shallow soft slab and took an unpleasant ride. Cut the rather benign looking gulley at top and thought all was good. Cracked out after a couple turns. Tried to reach rib on right but didn't make it. Fought like hell to self arrest and managed to stay on top after tumbling a ways. Thought skis and poles were buried but found them all down slope. Glad I was not skiing with toe pieces locked.