Vail & Summit County
AvalancheAnonymous · Oct 29, 2021 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Reviewed Grizzly Snotel temps, snow depth but not wind speed for the previous 72 hours prior to departure. Temperatures noted below freezing without thaw 10/26-27 and close to above freezing on 10/28. While discussing the route we noted probable above freezing temperatures. During the ascent we noted sunny but cool temps and little to no breeze. We evaluated snow quality, perceived temps and wind speed on North, East and west facing slopes during ascent between the elevations of approx. 12,000 to 12,500.
Snowpack
Evaluated North, North-East facing objectives A, B, C and east facing objective D with binoculars from pass lake lot and noted thin snow pack with grass, rock and snow in 3 of the objectives and rocks without grass in 1 objective. Noted turns in two of the chutes we had evaluated. Variable snow pack noted during ascent. Found snow depth ranging from boot to knee deep on ridgeline between UN12585 and UN12293 with portions of snow with and without evidence of slab. We decided on objective A. We did not note evidence of strong wind loading but assumed that it had some loading due to the increased amount of snow compared to the surrounding lines. We discussed the most probable area of the line that would load and discussed skiing away from this section. Skier 1 ascended into skier right top entrance. He dug two small pits and did not find evidence of slab in the entrance of the line. Noted snow depth to be approx. 40 inches to ground.
Avalanche
Skier 1 ski cut further into line without issue then ascended the entirety of line and noted few rocks during decent but no evidence of instability. Skier 1 was in perceived safe spot and radioed to skier 2 to descend. Skier 2 descended into line with same ski cut and followed the same path as skier 1. In his third or 4th turn the snow broke approx. 20-30 yards above and to his left. He was carried approx. 500 yards into the lower apron. His skis were only partially buried and he was able to stand up and free himself from the snow without injury. Two other slides released sympathetically and simultaneously to the north.