On March 24, 2022 a group of six skiers descended the west side of Woody Ridge near an area locally
known as KNB's. Approximately a third of the way down the slope the group triggered an avalanche that
crossed three gullies, broke 1-3 feet deep, 275 feet wide (measured on GoogleEarth) and ran 700 feet
vertical. Five skiers were stopped, watching one descend the slope. Three of the stopped skiers were in a
row of dense trees directly above and adjacent to where the slide broke and two were stopped a few
feet below the trees. The avalanche caught the skier and two members of the group who were stopped
downhill of the trees. One skier was pinned against a tree and the avalanche passed him. The second
skier slid into a tree sustaining multiple suspected rib fractures. The third, who was actively skiing, was
caught, carried and partially buried with just his arm sticking out of the snow, 500 vertical feet below the
avalanche crown. All three captured skiers successfully deployed their airbags.
The three remaining members of the group switched their avalanche transceivers to search and located
all three victims, and unburied the partially buried skier within five minutes. All members of the group
had formal avalanche training: Avalanche Level 1 and 2 up to a Pro Level 2. All members of the group had
avalanche transceivers, shovels, probes and airbags. The group performed field first aid and
self-evacuated to Cooke City.