Accidents

Friday, 23 July, 2010

Unqualified guide in fatal accident

Amongst the many missions flown by the PGHM based in Chamonix on the 11th July was the recovery of the body of a Polish climber killed after falling in the couloir du Goûter. The Goûter is the normal route to the summit of Mont Blanc from St Gervais. The climber, aged in his thirties, was leading a group of three Australians at the time of the accident.

Posted by davidof at 12:04 AM
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Monday, 05 April, 2010

French police warn skiers off mountains

The Rescue Services in the Isère department have flown seven rescue missions in the space of a couple of hours today. Conditions were difficult for pilots with high winds and drifting snow. A series of avalanches in the Isere and Haute-Savoie have left five people dead and others injured. Sebastian Rigaud, a spokesman for the mountain police in Grenoble has advised skiers to keep off the mountains for the next few days. If skiers do go out the greatest care is needed in route choice.

Posted by davidof at 04:59 PM
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Sunday, 07 February, 2010

Alive after 17 hours under an avalanche

A 21 years old has been found alive under an avalanche after 17 hours. He was found conscious and with just mild hypothermia according to the rescue services.

Posted by davidof at 11:20 PM
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Tuesday, 02 February, 2010

“Hand of God” saves college prof.

Last Saturday Gilles Durand, a 53 year old college professor and director of sports at the University of Grenoble was climbing the steep couloir des Sultanes with a friend when they triggered a slab avalanche. The couloir takes it name from the large sentinel rocks that guard the entrance.

Couloir des Sultanes

Posted by davidof at 09:00 AM
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Monday, 18 January, 2010

Fatality in Grand Vallon - Val d’Isere

A Danish skier in his thirties has been killed by an avalanche this afternoon at Val d’Isère. The avalanche occurred on the West facing Grand Vallon at 2700 meters altitude. The skier was part of a group of eight from the UCPA and accompanied by an instructor.

Posted by vdawson at 07:52 PM
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Wednesday, 06 January, 2010

Avalanche of hyperbole buries Euroskiers

Backcountry travellers risk being buried in an avalanche of hyperbole this winter as journalists and law-makers turn their sights on off piste skiers. Writing from the comfort of some Parisien brassiere the Guardian’s intrepid Lizzy Davies alluded to a “Winter of Terror” similar to 1999 or 1950 with “alpine residents living in fear” of avalanches raining down on their chalets.

Posted by davidof at 05:13 PM
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Wednesday, 14 October, 2009

Avalanche Days 2009

The ANENA (National Association for the Study of Snow and Avalanches) is running its Avalanche Days this autumn. The days will be held on the 7th November in Briançon, 21st November in Toulouse and the 5 December in Nice. They are aimed at all winter sports enthusiasts : walkers, climbers, free-riders, ski tourers and ice climbers who want to extend their knowledge of winter conditions in the mountains.

Posted by davidof at 09:18 AM
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Monday, 05 October, 2009

Avalanche families long wait for closure

In April 2005 two young snowboarders, Sam Harber and James Rourke, were killed by a massive avalanche in the French Alps. More than four years on and the fallout from that slide is still reverberating far beyond the sparkling glaciers of the Savoie and carries an important warning for other off-piste enthusiasts.

Posted by davidof at 09:22 PM
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Thursday, 25 June, 2009

Avalanche kills two on Mont Blanc

Two Haute-Savoyards have been killed by an avalanche on Mont Blanc early yesterday. The climbers were attempting a long route on the Droites above the Talèfre glacier. It seems that the pair were hit by a small slab under the Tour des Courtes at around 3600 meters altitude. The men were swept to their deaths over cliffs.

Posted by davidof at 07:35 AM
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Friday, 29 May, 2009

Karine Ruby killed by crevasse fall

Olympic snowboarding champion Karine Ruby and a client have been killed by a crevasse fall on Mont Blanc. A second client is in a serious condition. Ruby won Olympic gold for the snowboarding giant slalom at Nagano in 1998. Ruby passed the grueling guiding exams last summer along with 46 other candidates.

karine ruby