PRELIMINARY: Party of 2 ascended skin track to ridge after approaching via snowmachines to summer trailhead. Reporting party heard one collapse on skin track, most of which had previously avalanched, to the ridge where they transitioned. Party discussed staying on sub-ridge feature which had previously been wind-hammered during Thanksgiving east wind event. Party skied several hundred vertical feet from ridge without incident. after regrouping and discussed specifics route strategies, the second skier diverted from intended route and triggered a soft slab, 2-3' thick and 50' wide on a steeper terrain feature adjacent to a gully. Debris funneled into gully and carried the victim through brush and trees. Skier 2 was buried under approximately 2 feet of snow. First skier performed beacon search and excavated the skier in ~15min., found victim pulseless with signs of leg injury. First skier performed CPR for 1.5 hours. Skier likely died of trauma. Both were extricated via helicopter due to dangerous avalanche conditions near route and hangfire on scene. Responding LEO witnessed another avalanche while on scene. Forecast team has made two trips to Prater in the past 3 weeks and observed NSF's and surface hoar.
BTAC Observation