Avalanche

News relating to avalanches. Check the Avalanche Bulletins when planning a trip outside of open ski slopes.

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, 17 April, 2009

The one that got away

A 35 year old ski tourer has been caught by an avalanche above Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye in the Alpes de Haute-Provence late yesterday morning. Climbing alone he could have become just another one of these years statistics but fate decided otherwise.

Posted by davidof at 09:23 AM
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Tuesday, 14 April, 2009

Dramatic avalanche rescue at Val d’Isere

Henry Schniewind has sent us information about an avalanche rescue operation at Val d’Isere yesterday. Three ski tourers were buried climbing to the Point Pers. The avalanche released 200 metres above them, probably due to remote triggering and was 400 meters wide. The slope is west facing at around 3500 meters altitude.

Posted by davidof at 09:41 AM
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Monday, 13 April, 2009

Three ski tourers killed by Queyras avalanche

Three ski tourers, two men and a woman have been killed by a large avalanche on the Pointe Joanne (3052 meters) in the Southern Alps. A fourth person has been taken to hospital in Briançon but without serious injury. The slide measured 400 meters and run over 800 meters.

Posted by davidof at 02:26 PM
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Saturday, 04 April, 2009

Avalanche at Val d’Isère

A family group with a ski instructor have been caught by an avalanche off piste in Val d’Isère. One of the group, a 21 year old man, was taken by helicopter to Grenoble in a critical conditions.

Posted by davidof at 09:09 PM
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Thursday, 19 March, 2009

Increase in avalanche deaths for Winter 2009

This winter (1st December to 1st March) 19 people died in avalanche accidents in France. This is close to the average established since 2000 but 3 more than the median figure for the period reflecting the unstable conditions, particularly during January.

avalanche rescue

Posted by davidof at 07:12 PM
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Saturday, 07 March, 2009

Three ski tourers killed by avalanche in North Belledonne

Three ski tourers have been killed by an avalanche in the North Belledonne close to Chambery. The skiers were heading for Le Chapotet in the commune of Presle. It is the most serious avalanche accident in France this season.

Le Chapotet (archive photo, early May).

Posted by davidof at 06:18 PM
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Sunday, 01 March, 2009

Avalanche on the Ventoux

An climber has been injured by an avalanche on the northern slopes of Mont Ventoux close to Avignon yesterday. The area has been experience exceptional snow conditions this winter. The slide was triggered by a ski tourer and hit the climber 200 meters lower down the combe de Fonfiole.

Posted by davidof at 12:01 PM
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Wednesday, 28 January, 2009

Pic du Midi avalanche kills cop

A senior police officer and qualified high mountain guide, member of a specialist mountain unit of the CRS, has been killed by an avalanche while preparing a ski competition route in the Pyrenees.

Posted by davidof at 10:45 AM
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Saturday, 24 January, 2009

Avalanches leave five dead in Northern Alps

A series of avalanches in the Northern French Alps have killed five skiers and snow-shoers. The two snow-shoers were killed late this afternoon by an avalanche in the Flaine area. The alert was given around 16h00. The group were in near the summit of the Arbaron when a cornice collapsed beneath them triggering an avalanche 140cm deep in places.

Posted by davidof at 08:45 PM
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