Accidents

Friday, 03 February, 2012

Rowdy airbag save caught on film.

A videographer at an unsanctioned snowboard freeride event captured some provocative footage last weekend of an avalanche airbag in action:

Posted by Edge at 04:55 AM
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Wednesday, 18 January, 2012

6 Deaths in a week in the French Pyrenees

The avalanche conditions may be some of the most stable we’ve known in a generation but that’s not the only danger in the mountains in winter. As we mentioned in the January Snow Conditions Thread the other side of the coin is frequently hard or icy snow. In the Pyrenees there have been 6 deaths in a week as winter sports enthusiasts have lost their footing in the mountains.

That’s what I call a rain crust!

Posted by davidof at 06:15 PM
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Saturday, 24 December, 2011

Piste patroller killed by avalanche charge

A 54 year old piste patroller has been killed in Klosters during avalanche control work. The patroller and his colleague had loaded a launch pipe with an 8.3cm rocket. The patroller was in the process of removing 2 safety devices when the charge exploded without warning. Standing behind the device the patroller was killed by the recoil and by shrapnel from the charge. The accident follows a another incident on the 18th December at Flégère in the Haute-Savoie. In this case the charge exploded inside an avalancheur system injuring two piste patrollers. Note: See comment from Philippe Laborde from LaCroix below

Posted by davidof at 12:20 PM
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Friday, 25 November, 2011

French Avalanche analysis for winter 2010/2011

During the 2010-2011 season in France there were 29 avalanche fatalities in 19 incidents. On the face of it a fairly typical year. However the overall figures hide a concentration of fatal avalanches in the border region with Italy and in the months of December and March which saw 58% of fatal incidents. Ski touring incidents as well as the seriousness of incidents both continued the recent upward trend.

rescue helicopter

Posted by davidof at 04:17 PM
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Wednesday, 20 April, 2011

Switzerland: thin snow pack primes avalanche time bomb

In a press release issued on the 19th April 2011 the Swiss Snow and Avalanche Research Institute (SLF) highlighted how a winter marked by above average temperatures and a thin snow pack led to an explosive situation by early March where the majority of fatal avalanches were recorded. It is a message we at PisteHors.com repeated throughout the season in our snow report threads. The number of deaths in Switzerland is already equivalent to the long term annual average despite fewer risk 3 and 4 avalanche days.

Avalanches, such as this on in the Simplon on a north slope above 2500m, were easy to trigger by one or more backcountry travellers at the end of winter 2011. (Photo: C.Höhener, 06.03.2011)

Posted by redac at 11:32 AM
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Saturday, 19 March, 2011

Six dead, one missing in French avalanches

The rescue services were stretched to the limit this weekend as a series of avalanches with their epicenter close to the Italian border left six skiers dead and one missing. On Friday avalanches in Val d’Isere and Queyras killed two skiers with a Russian missing in the Mont du Vallon sectors sector of Meribel. He is believed to be buried under 5 meters of snow in a sector dangerous for rescuers. There was also a large slide under the Funitel at Val Thorens on an already heavily tracked slope.

Avalanche on the Mont Vallon - Niall Mckelvie

Posted by davidof at 05:36 PM
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Friday, 12 November, 2010

Backcountry Awareness Initiative for University Ski Clubs

Tragically every year young people perish or are seriously injured in the mountains, from being swept to their deaths in avalanches to alcohol related incidents leading to death or injury from hypothermia. Up to 15,000 students go on university ski trips each winter and statistics show that this age group is most at risk of becoming victims of avalanches or accidents off piste. With some essential basic knowledge many of these accidents could be avoided.

Posted by davidof at 01:53 PM
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Monday, 08 November, 2010

Swiss prosecution could impact off-piste skiing

On the 27th December 2009 an avalanche in the Swiss Valais resort of Anzère which hit an open ski run triggered a major rescue operation involving 130 people, 8 avalanche dogs and 3 helicopters. The slide was probably caused by 3 off piste skiers. Experts believe that the legal process could lead to restrictions on off-piste skiing near to open ski runs.

Posted by davidof at 07:13 AM
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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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