Yellow Mountain

One skier was caught and killed in an avalanche that occurred on Yellow Mountain near Big Sky, Montana.   The avalanche released on a wind-loaded slope with a southerly aspect.  The crown was 2 feet at its deepest point, had a slope angle of 39 degrees, fractured 75 feet across, and ran 2070 vertical feet.  The victim, who triggered the avalanche on his second turn, was caught and carried over a cliff and down through a rocky chute.  Cause of death was blunt force trauma.  US classification of the avalanche is SS-ASu-R2-D2-O.