Two skiers caught in avalanche on Ross Peak

Ross Peak
Bridger Range
Code
SS-ASu-R2-D1.5
Elevation
8500
Aspect
SE
Latitude
45.85860
Longitude
-110.95600
Notes

Two skiers triggered an avalanche while ascending the Banana Couloir on Ross Peak on the morning of 12/5/22. The skiers were approximately 150 ft from the top of the couloir. The avalanche broke 20 ft above the upper skier. The slide broke in wind drifted snow 6 inches deep and approximately 30 ft wide, across most of the couloir. The lower skier was waiting in a "safe spot on the side" but was also caught by the slide. The slide ran ~600 vertical feet, pulling out a deeper pocket of snow (1.5-2 ft deep) midway down the path. Both skiers were fully submerged as they were carried, but ended up partially buried near the toe of the debris. One skier had snow packed into his mouth and underneath his eyelids. They returned to the trailhead under their own power. 

Number of slides
1
Number caught
2
Number buried
2
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
2
D size
1.5
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
6.0 inches
Vertical Fall
600ft
Slab Width
30.00ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year