Public Observation #2022-698

Observation Details

Observed Avalanches

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

This provides details to an earlier Ball Butte Avalanche observation. While traveling west up the east access ridge to Ball Butte we observed a single rider walking out of a avalanche debris pile with a deflated deployed air bag. Location was the NE aspect at 7800' approximately 150' below the ridge. The rider was uninjured. Discussion revealed that the rider had completed a snowpit assessment further back on the skin track and found no instability. The rider then ski cut easterly on the norht aspect but caught the tip of his board in the deep snow and tumbled. Then came the release and susequent airbag deployment. Fortnately his ski cut had him on the uphill portion of the slab when it released and deposited 150' below in the terrain trap. Slide size is estimated at an R2D2 with crown height varrying from 1'-3' and propagation of about 80 meters.