The wind whipped, the snow stabbed like daggers to any exposed flesh.  The weather was nearly unbearable, but we had made the decision to come this way and it was to late to turn back.  The four of us kept moving forward step by painful step, hiding ourselves from the world that was trying to tear us apart.  We had reached the top of the hill and now we had to pick our way down the rock marked icy slope.  Our skis slid and screamed as the edges grasped for any purchase.  Our next goal was a small roll in a ridge to our left, the only safe spot on the open face.  The next spot was the last and final spot before we were in the clear, as we came to the top we stopped and hesitated.  The snow had been wind loaded, it was an unsupported convex slope, and the sun had bore down on it all afternoon.  The pieces of the puzzle had all fit together perfectly, and the lead man and I called up to the other two to watch us and stay put until we were completely down the snow sheared away from the slope.  The crown ran under the feet of the two higher people, nearly two feet deep the slabs tore down the hill gathering more speed and debris as it went. The lead was able to nearly instantly turn with the slide and out ski it reaching safety on the other side of the slope, while I was dropped to my side.  The blocks of snow flowed past me and carried me down the hill and towards the trees and cliffs.  Miraculously I was able to regain my footing and start skiing towards the edge, towards the safety.  The slide stopped slowed enough as it went over a plateau, to allow me to glide out the side.  My heart pounding, adrenaline thundering thruogh my veins, but I was alive safe even liberated.  I had always heard about avalanches and had studied on avalanche safety, but I had never had a chance to practice it in real life.  The training had payed off, I had known exactly what to do and why I had to do it without hesitation.  I was alive, I had learned and I was happy to have learned.