Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

triggered this slide in avalanche bowl on Ptarmigan hill vail pass.it was our 6th run down.3 on skiers left first thing in mourning around 9.we then did 2 more down skiers rt close to the trees.on the last lap we were skiers rt .three skiers skier 1 dropped from the rt and across to skiers left cutting st across. got to almost the middle of bowl when the snow colapsed where my brother and i were standing about 200 yards from skier 1 on top skier rt.fracture went from us all the way to skiers left.from middle of bowl to all the way skiers left broke away.skier 1 noticed the slide to his left and escaped by banging a hard rt into the trees on skier rt .he was never buried. my brother and i skier 2 and 3 went way rt to gladed trees and met with skier 1. every one safe and very lucky Aspect: N Elevation: Above treeline