Headed out today in a group of 4 intending to do a lap or two on either Lazy Days or Lucky Days depending on how we felt about the wind slab situation, where the better snow was, etc. Having been out on Tuesday, we were well aware of the crazy winds that ripped through the Wasatch and created touchy conditions. I think this gave us a false sense of "being in control" of mitigating wind slabs. Tuesday we felt that we were able to ski cut things that felt wind loaded, let them go if they needed, and then ski the sluff path. Maybe not the best thought process looking back? Hindsight 20/20. At the top of the skinner we decided to go into Lucky Days because the snow was better, no sun crust, no tracks and for some reason seemed like it might be less wind loaded(?). We headed off the peak and I skied first. Skier 2 came down off the peak to get eyes on me, and I ski cut 4 different turns, stopping to assess the snow after each turn- I was conscious and nervous about wind slabs and trying to be smart! After 4 reassuring cuts, I said "okay, I think it's fine, I will quit being nervous and just ski" (so dumb right?). I made 3 turns and suddenly the snow beneath me gave way. Before I knew it I was speeding down surrounded by snow and completely helpless. I screamed "avalanche!" into the radio. Skier 3 and 4 were still on the peak and couldn't see what was happening. Skier 2 had eyes on me, but because of the terrain quickly lost sight as I went over a rollover. I knew below me was a steep cliff section and pictured what it was going to be like to fall off that and how could I not get buried? Weird thoughts go through your head when you are in a bad situation ha. The terrain opened up just a little and I knew I needed to get out of the slide- to the right was an open area and I somehow skied? to the right, hitting a small tree pretty hard in the process. I stopped abruptly, did a backward somersault down the hill and was able to arrest myself. I radioed to the group that I was okay and safe. I noticed some blood in the snow and let them know I was bleeding from somewhere but didn't feel hurt. Skier 2 skied down to me and we regrouped. All that happened was a huge fat, bleeding lip. I didn't lose any gear or get injured in any other way. Feels like somewhat of a miracle. We were now in complex terrain that felt a lot more dangerous and touchy, but with no other way out. We skied the slide bed and got to mellow terrain as soon as possible, trying to stay out of the hangfire above us.

We did a lot of things right. We knew there was a wind slab potential, we knew we were in steep, complex terrain. I made ski cuts, and tried to assess the snow. I made sure someone in the group had eyes on me before I dropped in, and we all communicated our observations with each other. I am so glad we all have radios! It has been one of the best backcountry investments I've made. In talking over the incident with the group after, we felt like we did everything we could in the situation to do the right thing. I think the only thing we could/should have done, was just pick different, safer terrain. But that's the gamble we all take when we step into avalanche territory. You do the best you can with the knowledge you have and try to make safe decisions. I'll be stepping back from steep, unprotected N-NE facing lines for a while, and I will definitely think about wind slabs a lot differently.

Sorry for the bad picture. No one really thought about taking one until they'd skied down a bit. You can sort of see the crown. It isn't super deep, maybe 5-8", mayyyyyybe 10" in a spot or too, and it wasn't very wide. But snow moves quick and strong even if it's only 6". The bed surface was still soft snow as you can see by the tracks.