Vail & Summit County
AvalancheJeremy Drawas · Apr 21, 2024 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Sunny (<10% cloud cover), warm (above 32 at summit), calm <10mph winds
Snowpack
Wind slab on top of wind / sun affected layer
Avalanche
Location: 39.37487, -106.09033 Altitude: 12,800 ft Aspect: East Time: 11am I was traveling with one partner and we had identified this line in Tractor Bowl. We are both experienced backcountry skiers with AIARE certifications. We believed it was reasonably safe, as the avalanche forecast was 'green' and we believed an 11am descent would be good timing. We were aware of the wind loading and the risk of the top layer moving, but did not believe it would trigger a lower slab. I descended at 11am and after heavy sluffing for the first few turns, the top layer cracked across approximately 30 ft. and carried approximately 500v.ft. downhill. I was carried approximately 30 v.ft. and self arrested. I had an airbag but was able to self arrest before I needed to deploy. I determined that the top layer had moved as much as it was likely to (at least at the top) and skied out of exposed terrain and radioed back to my partner. We decided that it was unlikely to move again in that area and he skied a similar line. There were no injuries, burials, or losses.