We (party of 4) were climbing to gain the ridge between Yellow Jacket Trees and Cabin Run and ended up higher than we intended and missed the safer entrance to the ridge. None of us had done this approach before. We could see skyline through the trees and decided that two of our party would wait a safe distance back in the trees while two of us checked out the entrance onto the ridge. The two that continued realized that we were high as soon as we popped out of the trees and briefly talked about options, including going back down into the trees and retreating lower. However, the top of the ridge was one good kick turn away and we got sucked into that "it’s so close” trap.

As my partner took some steps toward the top of the ridge I actually backed away even further and started getting pretty nervous but only said, “be careful, that looks wind loaded.” My partner was focused on a cornice on his left until he said, “oh, this is where the wind is dropping all the snow”. I had turned around and yelled to our other members to “not come up here”. I had decided we really should retreat, but I was too late and my partner yelled “slide”, and I turned back and saw the wind slab below the ridge break all around him. I tried to ski out to the side as I was on the very edge of where it propagated, but it hit me almost immediately. It broke probably 25’ wide and ran 50-60’; enough to take both of us for a short ride. My partner stopped at a tree probably 20’ down and I stopped at a tree 30’ down.

No burial, and no injuries besides a bruise. We did lose some poles. Once we determined everyone was ok we retreated and had a good debriefing and discussion of the traps we fell into.

Things we did right were space our party out as we became unsure of the route and terrain.

Things we did wrong were not turn around when we realized we had not approached the ridge the way we had intended. We knew we were in the wrong place, but got sucked into the feeling that it was just “right there”. The cornice drew our awareness away from the lower soft wind slab deposited below the ridge. Also, things can happen so quickly. Decisions can be made without fully understanding you are making them. Our group had a good dynamic and good communication generally, but in this moment we just didn’t take enough time. By the time I had processed my discomfort with the danger of continuing onto the ridge, it was too late. I needed to speak up immediately and more clearly. We should have returned and told the other two of our party the situation. I’m certain that would have changed our forward momentum and given us the time to make a better decision. We had been in pretty benign terrain all day, and had intended to keep it that way, but it only took 30 seconds for that to get away from us.