Details from a telephone report to the Utah Avalanche Center. More details to follow as they become available.
A party of skiers were breaking a trail up east-facing Cardiac Ridge. As they neared the top of the ridge, they triggered an avalanche from below, which broke out about 100 feet above them. The avalanche caught the last skier on the up track, carried him down and buried him about 2.5 feet deep. The others responded immediately and as they approached with their beacons on receive, they saw the tip of a ski pole sticking out. They pulled on it and it was attached to his wrist. They reported to have dug him out in about a minute and recovered without injuries.
They reported that they felt several collapses previously but did not think there was enough snow to create a dangerous avalanche. The wind was blowing the snow near the ridge, so they assumed that it was a wind slab, which likely collapsed on the very weak faceted snow.
Accident account from one of the party members:
Group of 4. Triggered near top of Cardiac Ridge. Triggered remotely by leading skinner. Skin track was hugging the north side rocks and heading southeast. Heard a whumph and felt a collapse. Felt slab under me move a bit and then stop. Also saw shooting crack go up. Then a soft slab about 40 to 50 feet across and about 75 feet above and to climber's left pulled out. Soft slab ran on wind blown layer from earlier in week. Slab ran about 300 to 400 feet. Slab consisted of new snow from last night. I think there was a windslab above that formed as a result of winds blowing over the top of the ridge. There were times when trail breaking was knee deep. 3 climbers were out of the path. I stood through some snow running boot height. The 4th climber took a direct hit and was carried a bit over 250 feet. He was deposited in a low spot before a roll over and buried perpendicular to slope. His head was about 2 feet under. He was lying face up. One pole was still attached and the tip was visible and enabled us to locate him immediately. Both skis were on -- dynafit toe pieces locked. Lost one pole in the ride. We dug, following the pole and cleared an airway within about 3 or 4 minutes after he was buried. His face had color and he was fully conscious. I don't think he would have been able to dig himself out without assistance. He took a big breath when airway was cleared. There were definitely warning signs. I felt a couple collapses. We deliberately stuck to sub ridges and spread out. I didn't think the new snow was enough to cause deep slab failure. I also didn't think that there was enough new snow to be too much of a problem. Had the 4th climber been 5 feet to the left or right, he probably would have been fine. He was in exactly the wrong spot at the wrong time.
Over confident. Over exuberant with new snow and early season. Hopefully this report will quell others'.
