Asulkan Hut partial Burial

Incident

Group Size

4

Terrain Trap

gullyDepression

Group Activity

skiing

Number Injured

0

Number Involved

2

Number Caught Only

0

Number Fully Buried

1

Snow Depth Trigger Point

deep

Terrain Shape Trigger Point

concave

Number Partly Buried Able Breathing

1

Number Partly Buried Impaired Breathing

0

We were touring the low angle slopes above Asulkan hut. Low visibility. Accidentally/unthinkingly skied through a steep wind loaded roll very close to the hut as we hurrying back. The slope avalanched, catching one person, who was buried up to their armpits. We were still in uphill ski mode (basically cross country skiing downhill), so the skis didn’t release and were a real anchor. Avalanche ran for only 25m, propagated about 75m wide, with a 45 to 60 cm crown.. Size 2. The people who write the bulletin know what they are talking about. Listen to them.