An avalanche has killed two Lithuanian ski alpinists in the Mont Blanc massive around midday today. The incident occurred above the Grands Montets ski area at 3200 meters altitude. The avalanche risk was 3 (Considerable localized danger) today with around 30cm of new snow, accompanied by strong winds, on a fragile base. It is the first fatal avalanche incident of the season in France.
The two victims were part of a group of three experienced climbers who were on the Petite Aiguille Verte route when they triggered a slab avalanche. In the fall one member of the group was carried to the bottom of a couloir and died of her injuries. The remaining two climbers were able to arrest their fall but one of the pair sustained fatal injuries during the slide.
http://www.camptocamp.org/routes/53783/fr/petite-aiguille-verte-voie-normale