Today I went out skiing in Dry Fork, a relatively short hike out from the Supreme lift due south at Alta. Our plan was to work Dry Fork, go to Mt. Tuscarora, then end the day at the ‘dead tree’ zone in the Brighton backcountry. However, my day got cut short due to being in my first avalanche. Here are a few photos from the experience:
On top of my line enjoying the sights waiting for filmers to get in position.
The sights.
Bout time to drop.. shortly after this photo I dropped in and after my first air, I was suddenly riding an avalanche struggling to get on the surface.
This is a shot looking up at the avalanche path after the avalanche. The rocks on the top right, after I jumped those, when I landed that’s when I was taken in the avalanche.
This is looking down avy debris field, you can see how far I have boot packed up to take the shot, so from where I got taken out up above me, to where I was deposited down there - pretty damn far, about 150 yards. It was my first avalanche, I’ve seen some people get taken out, but I haven’t been taken out. Poignant. I was happy to be ok. The slide took one of my skis and a pole. It made for a interesting hike/ski out from where I was in the backcountry. I’ll remember this day for awhile. Even if I had been buried, the filmers were right there - I would have been saved.
The one ski/one pole look.
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