Cliff fall and size 0.5/1 - Avalanche Crest

Activity

Skiing

Total in the group?

6

People fully buried?

0

People partly buried with normal breathing?

0

People not injured (caught but not buried)?

1

People injured (caught but not buried)?

0

People involved?

1

Terrain shape at trigger point

Unsupported

Snow depth at trigger point

Average

Terrain traps

• Cliff

Stayed skiers left along the trees towards the next cliff band/steeper part and went a little to the right before stop to access the route down over the cliff band/steeper part. (1560m) ( 51°16'19.50"N, -117°29'34.73"V). The chute and fall line from here looked durable, a little narrow and steep. It was clearly a cliff side with snow on top. My buddy had already skied it down and was waiting at safe stop below.

My group continued a little further right around this point, while I was taking some time to consider my line coming down.

I started my desending of the cliff chute made a turn and stopped on a pillow of snow that i thought looked supported. I fell over forward made one or two rolls and saw a lot of snow coming down and a big block of snow/ice rolling with me. I initiated my avi bag, and my skies clicked out and then I had a sudden stop on the steep cliff side looking down at the slide area. I managed to see where one of my skies where going for a while and then I lost track of it when it got buried.

Used my other ski to climb down the rock/cliff side while my group guided me from below.

My stopping on the pillow made all the snow fall from the cliff and thats what initiated my fall and the size 0,5-1 dry loose avalanche. Observations after made it clear that a large rock was now visible and naked from snow.

I managed to ski down with my group going further skiers right towards the final cliff band on my one ski.

Summery:

* Tumble and avalanche (1530m) (51°16'19.16"N, -117°29'36.39"V)

*Lost 1 Armada ARV 116 JJ ski (1500m) ( 51°16'18.47"N, -117°29'37.69"V)

Next time we will come down far right after the first cliff band as recommended by Park Ranger after accident.

Fatmap track: https://fatmap.com/adventureid/4899251/rogers-pass:-day-3-avalanche-crest?fmid=cp