Vosges climbers injured by snow slide

Two climbers have been injured by an avalanche in the Vosges massif yesterday. The climbers, a man aged 45 and a woman of 35 were in the Y couloir near to Falimont on the north side of the Hohneck. They were not buried by the slide but suffered from a number of fractures.

Due to the weather conditions the rescue helicopter was unable to reach the scene. Instead a ground rescue consisting of the Mountain Police (PGM - pelotons de gendarmerie de montagne) and EPIM (équipe de première intervention en montagne) were able to reach the victims on foot and by quad bike.

According to a police spokesman the couple, who are from Nancy, were properly equipped and were climbing the couloir using crampons and ice axes. The Hohneck couloirs are popular with skiers and climbers but have been the scene of a number of accidents. The police warned of further slides due to the humidification of the snow-pack.

In Tignes an off piste skier was seriously injured today at midday. She was descending the bottom of the glacier de la Grande Motte when she fell over a 10 meter rock bar breaking her femur. She was rescued by the CRS from Courchevel using a private helicopter (and hence will have a hefty insurance bill to pay despite being outside the ski domain).