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Avalanche: Uintas

Observer Name
Tim Patten
Observation Date
Monday, March 5, 2012
Avalanche Date
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Stripers on backside of Red Cliffs
Elevation
9,500'
Aspect
East
Slope Angle
40°
Trigger
Snowmobiler
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Weak Layer
Depth Hoar
Depth
2'
Width
800'
Vertical
600'
Caught
1
Carried
1
Buried - Partly
1
Comments

I was the second to go down the shoot, as I got into the top of it it cracked out either side of me and I had no choice but to ride it down. Gave it full throttle and hit the rock lump 1/4 of the way down and jumped 50-60 feet landed and gave it another full throttle rip and hit the toe of the avy. That sent me flying in front of the avy as I did that the sled and my face met and it was a yard sale at 60mph! Avy rolled me and the sled and buried both. Stopped with my head and one arm at the surface. The crew was on me fast within 10 seconds. They had me out in 1 minute or less. My face hit so hard it ripped my goggles and visor off and the chin strap choked me hard, luckily it stayed on. Came out with a bloody nose, mouse over the left eye, sore throat, and knot on the collar bone. Sled started right up, we gathered some parts and pieces up and we continued on to the next one. This slide was the firts of 3 we set off today. No one else was caught in the other two.

Coordinates