Observer Name
        Ted
  
      Observation Date
        Wednesday, May 4, 2022
  
      Avalanche Date
        Wednesday, May 4, 2022
  
      Region
        Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Ski Area » West Rustler
  
      Location Name or Route
        West Rustler
  
      Elevation
            9,700'
  
      Aspect
        West
  
      Trigger
        Skier
  
      Avalanche Type
        Wet Slab
  
      Avalanche Problem
        Wet Snow
  
      Depth
        12"
  
      Width
            50'
  
      Carried
        1
  
      Comments
        Hadn't seen any signs of instability and the new snow seemed decently bonded on the skin up, so decided to ski something steep-ish. Made two ski cuts at the top and nothing moved. Half way down the run the snow had other ideas and a point release propagated into a 50' wide slow moving slide that entrained all of the new snow. Tried to ski out of it, but lost both skis. Went for a ride for a couple hundred vert, but was able to stay on top sliding on my butt/back. Was wearing and ready to deploy an airbag, but didn't need to. The slide spread out and came to a gentle stop as the terrain flattened. I came away unharmed. A nearby group of three that witnessed the slide called over to make sure I was ok and no one else was involved, then kindly helped my fetch my skis, which fortunately ran downhill rather than getting buried. I alerted Alta staff and a few skiers starting their tour at the bottom. There was at least one other similar slide nearby by the time I got to the bottom. 




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