Posted on: 2021-01-26 22:59:03 by davidof

Two fatal avalanche incidents in the French Northern Alps

The avalanche situation continues to be sensitive with two further deaths and a number of other skier triggered slides today. A ski tourer has been killed in the Combe des Balmes above the ski resort of Aussois. The bowl is usually controlled by the ski resort when the domain is open and is known to be avalanche prone. Part of a group of two they were on what is usually the Balmes black ski run. They had climbed to the top of the ski area and the victim was skiing down when the avalanche occurred. The avalanche occurred on a SE slope at 2250 meters altitude. The victim was said to be "experienced" and was wearing an avalanche beacon. The avalanche risk was Considerable (3/5) for the slope aspect concerned by the incident. Strong North to West winds had been transporting snow and the bulletin warned that a surface slide could trigger the underlying weak layers.

A ski tourer has been killed on the north side of the Croix de Cassini to the south of the Col de la Sarenne near l'Alpe d'Huez by a large avalanche. Part of a group of two, his partner was able to give the alert. A large rescue operation involving helicopters from Grenoble and l'Alpe d'Huez was put into place. The skier was located using his avalanche beacon but was buried under 3 meters of snow which complicated the recovery. The avalanche risk was Considerable (3/5) on all slope aspects and altitudes with a warning for wind blown and fresh snow and some possibly very large windslab.

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