Under such conditions we could trigger this avalanche from the bottom where we are standing. After our run down Reed's Peak, the helicopter returns to take us to our next run down an adjacent mountain called New Year's Peak. This one's about 100 yards below us, an area with a slight rise to it near a cluster of trees. To get there Woody skies over a large cornice built up on the ridge to the left. Further onto the slope is a snow pillow formed by the extra snow blown off the cornice.
Pillows are paradoxes, dangerous areas of wind loading that offer the best skiing.
Woody takes the route over the cornice to see if he can knock anything off. When he reaches the zone of safety, he signals me with his pole. Overwhelmed by the wide-open, untracked snow, I take the gut of the pillow. Each turn produces a face shot with light snow zinging over my head. Lost in my giggles I gain too much speed and tumble.