World-class Canadian climber Guy Lacelle died in an avalanche Thursday morning while participating in an ice-climbing competition in Hyalite Canyon. He was climbing up a small gully and a team above him triggered a small avalanche… A small pocket of snow pulled out and caught him. It hit him and took him off the cliff, down the ice.”

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/12/11/news/000avy.txt

Words from Will Gadd and a video analysis of the snow conditions and why the avalanche occurred:
http://gravsports.blogspot.com/2009/12/laps-and-ice-climbing.html

Thanks for posting that, a very clear video which also has lessons for skiers who are couloir skiing. While the couloir maybe relatively safe the exit is often the danger zone. In this case add a terrain trap and the recipe is fatal.

Looking at the configuration I imagine the entrance to the goulotte formed a kind of whirling effect moving snow around and creating the compact slab. Looking at the rock walls there must have been a lot of snow accumulating at the base of the cliffs. So although the couloir might purge reguarly the terrain below could be dangerous. Normally people climbing on foot believe they are safer than skiers as they punch down deeper into the snowpack… but if the slab is triggered above this may not count.

Bad news for Guy, his friend, family and the climbing community.