"The cornice that broke already had foot tracks from other backcountry travelers that were walking around on it earlier in the day. This may have given the victim a false sense of security," according to the report.

But Jaroscak said even avalanche beacons might not have made a difference in this case.

"He may have been severely injured in the fall," Jaroscak said. "The autopsy will hopefully show if his fatal injuries were due to compression or asphyxiation."

The avalanche forecast for that day was listed at "moderate to considerable."

The man with Cremaschi "was very shaken up and realizes the many mistakes that they made resulted in a tragic ending," according to the Avalanche Center's report.

Cremaschi reportedly had traveled to Utah during the past two or three seasons, which is summertime in Chile, to snowboard.

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Contributing: Lorena Letelier, Periodista Nacional Diario La Tercera

E-mail: preavy@desnews.com