I'm wondering what you mean by "class 5" though?
Ah yes, the context is an analogy of very rapids moving river through trees and boulders rather than a classified grade of avalanche. Sorry for the confusion.
I appreciate the concerns from all my BC buddies.
It is truly a miracle that I came out of that one alive or unscathed.
Just thinking back-
1) If I skied into the bowl with long GS turns and speed (new school style) I would have been caught in the middle rather than on the top portion and certainly buried deep, as you can see the debris at the bottom of the picture.
2) Not that I prefer to take one for the team, but it was lucky that I was in that slide rather than an inexperienced person or Joe public without any skills that crosses the South Back gate just because it is open.
3) Glad that we went one at a time rather than all at once down the slope.
4) Just because it is open does not mean it is stable or controlled.
5) One of our group members first trip down the King-Nice eye opener that was for him.
6) Other trip reports I read for that area did not see significant problems other than Bullion Basin, so it seemed more unstable on the North slopes.
Joe
