Avalanche
News relating to avalanches. Check the Avalanche Bulletins when planning a trip outside of open ski slopes.
Sunday, 20 April, 2008
Winter conditions leads to rise in avalanche deaths
A return to winter conditions has brought a smile to the faces of ski resorts as they look towards the end of the season but has also brought a significant increase in avalanche incidents. A reminder that the conditions that lead to unstable snow conditions are not confined to the winter months. There have been 15 confirmed deaths over the winter in France with 9 occuring during March and April. Yesterday an experienced ski tourer was killed in the Maritime Alpes and two other skiers seriously injured above l’Alpe d’Huez.
Couloir des Pioches, alpe d’Huez
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Wednesday, 16 April, 2008
Ubaye in shock following avalanche death
Pierre Lombard, popular owner of the Gite de Larche has been killed by an avalanche yesterday. The Gite de Larche is a favourite overnight stop on the GR5 long distance walking route. Mr Lombard has deep roots in the area, his father was a long serving mayor in the community. An experienced mountaineer, news of Mr Lombard’s death has sent shock-waves well beyond the tight knit mountain community.
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Wednesday, 26 March, 2008
Avalanche Pic Mauberme
At almost the same time as four alpinists were killed on Pic du Midi du Bigorre (Pyrenees) on Friday, Paul Hadfield and I triggered a similar avalanche at the top of the Couloir Tartereau on Pic Mauberme just a few tens of miles further east but we were able to avoid being swept down the couloir.
Couloir de Tartereau - Les Inglis-Sharp
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Friday, 21 March, 2008
Four climbers killed by Pyrenees avalanche
Four climbers, described as “very experienced”, have been killed after falling on the Pic du Midi. It appears the group triggered a small snow slide as they were climbing towards the summit on a 45-50° slope. The climbers were at 2700 meters on the west side of the mountain in the top section of the couloir de Chiroulet.
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Saturday, 15 March, 2008
Respected Houches mountaineers killed by avalanche
Pierre and Marie-Jo Trappier have been killed by an avalanche while ski touring above les Houches. Pierre Trappier was well known amongst climbers and ski tourers. The “couloir Trappier” on the north side of the Aiguille du Goûter bears his name. The two victims were part of a group of five engaged in a couloir in the Cabane des Rognes sector.
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Friday, 14 March, 2008
Three ski fatalities in the Northern Alps
It has been a good winter for avalanche incidents in France with just 6 confirmed deaths. This record low can be attributed to the lack of snowfall and stable anticyclonic weather. This week winter was back with 30 to 80 cm of snow falling above 2200 meters accompanied by strong north-west winds. Enough to raise the avalanche risk to High early in the week. It was still Considerable today with a return to clear skies and sunny weather.
Aiguille Rouge, scene of fatal avalanche today
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Wednesday, 06 February, 2008
Boarder found dead at Pra Loup
There have been a number of accidents over the last couple of days. A ski tourer was caught by an avalanche on the north face of the Grand Colon close to Grenoble on Sunday. He was carried 100 meters over small cliffs but was not buried. He suffered from a broken ankle and other injuries and was taken to hospital by helicopter. Witnesses described the conditions as delicate because of around 40cm of fresh snow and very strong winds.
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Monday, 14 January, 2008
Two ski tourers killed in Belledonne
Two ski tourers have been killed, probably by an avalanche, while descending from a night in the Pra refuge in the Belledonne mountain range. The incident occurred on Saturday during heavy snow and poor visibility.
Lac du Crozet
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Thursday, 10 January, 2008
Tignes season worker killed by avalanche
A snowboarder has been killed off-piste in Tignes by an avalanche yesterday. The avalanche occurred in the Tufs couloir in the Toviere sector above Tignes le Lac. With light snow and poor visibility the conditions were marginal at the time of the accident according to rescuers from specialized mountain police units of the CRS des Alpes based in Courchevel. The victim was buried under 150cm of snow.
Avalanche site in the “Fingers” couloirs - Henry Schniewind
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Sunday, 06 January, 2008
Ski tourer killed by Hautes-Alpes avalanche
A ski tourer has been killed by an avalanche close to the col de Malaure in the Abriès range on Saturday. This is the first avalanche fatality in the Hautes-Alpes department this winter. The victim, named as 27 year trainee ski instructor old Alexia Garcin and local to the Queyras, was with two friends. They were on a route they new well but had to change their itinerary due to poor visibility.
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