In February 2024, two groups of climbers were caught in an avalanche at Mont-Dore, in the Puy-de-Dôme region. It was the deadliest avalanche in Auvergne in 50 years. France Television have returned to the events that killed four people and left one injured.
That day, Gaétan, his cousin Eric, and their guide David Vigouroux, were training for a future Mont-Blanc ascent. Despite poor weather conditions—thick fog, wind, and falling snow—they decided to proceed. They climbed towards a ridge near Puy Redon, where they met the other group. Suddenly, a slab of snow broke loose. Gaétan, at the back, was struck by his cousin and swept away without even realizing it was an avalanche at first.
Val d'Enfer (credit: prefecture)
Tossed around like in a washing machine, Gaétan was buried under 70 cm of snow. Managing to free his arm and head, he stayed trapped for over an hour, thinking of his daughters to stay strong. His cousin didn’t survive. Rescue teams, alerted by two climbers who had stayed behind, arrived and saved Gaétan and a woman suffering from hypothermia. Four bodies were recovered, including Eric and the guide.
Though deeply marked by the tragedy, Gaétan continues to hike and ski, but only on marked trails. He returned to the avalanche site as a form of therapy but has abandoned his dream of climbing Mont-Blanc.
https://pistehors.com/S3wW4Y0B1g7SdbHcb-m0/avalanche-at-mont-dore-at-least-4-dead