An off piste skier has been killed by an avalanche in Val d'Isère this afternoon. The man, aged in his 30s, was skiing in a group of 6 in the north facing couloir du Lavancher when they triggered the slide at around 2100 meters altitude. The Lavancher is accessible directly off the Solaise lift. The piste patrol were alerted at 16h30. The found the man under 50 cm of snow. He was equipped with both an airbag and avalanche beacon. He was recovered after 15 minutes under the snow. A medicine flown in from Modane was unable to revive the victim.
The avalanche risk was 3/5 (Considerable) on a wide West to North to North East exposure with the principal dangers being the persistent weak layer (we did say it was persistent) and wind blown snow. with numerous slabs still in place on the steepest slopes. They are powdery in appearance in sheltered areas or denser if there has been wind. These slabs rest on persistent weak layers and can be triggered remotely or with the slightest disturbance leading to size 2 to 3 avalanches depending on the steepness of the slope. There is also hard wind-slab in the most exposed areas which can be 1.5 to 2 meters thick which could be triggered by larger groups or a fall. The wind is creating new, small to medium slabs which may be triggered by a single skier. Beware of cracks or whoumps in the snow-pack. All in all a very complex situation at present.
Wayne Watson of the Alpine Experience ski school reports that a guide was seriously injured in the Lavachet sector in Tignes on the 16th January. He is reported as being out of danger. Wayne suspects the avalanche has been kept out of the press to protect the ESF.