People say you can’t do much once a slide swallows you up.  They’re right.  Last week at Squaw I headed down a chute I love to ski.  After a storm, it usually shluffs off a foot or more of loose snow.  I noticed the top was pretty loaded, so I entered off of center.  If this was in the backcountry it would be a no go, but I assumed it was all good since I had skied it the day before.

As I entered I saw a fracture open up for about about 20 feet to my left…by the time I looked right the whole slab dropped out from under me.  Growing up in Tahoe you get used to small loose snow slides as you clean out lines after a good storm.  My instinct was to ski left towards the chute’s bank to get out of the main slide.  The reality was I had about 3 seconds of skiing before the load ripped me out of my skis and sent me tumbling. Swimming really is a good description, just put your boots and clothes on and jump in the Tahoe.

After a few seconds in the spin cycle I somehow got pushed off center and settled off to the side slightly burried.  Lucky. I had a beacon on (first time I’ve ever worn one inbounds), but I had been skiing solo.  Decided to break off from my buddy and get some non-stops.  No friends on a powder day, heh?  My skis managed to stay afloat and were about 200 feet below me in the debris. The crown was about 3 feet not including the loose snow on top.

Thank you snow gods.

Things learned:

1) once your in a slide its up to gravity, lose the fantasy of skiing out of it

2) wear a beacon on big snow days

3) ski with someone else with a beacon

4) if you stop to make sure your beacon is on…should you be skiing it?