French Avalanche And Off Piste Accidents 2005 2006

Avalanches > Accident Statistics > French Avalanche and Off-Piste Accidents 2005 - 2006

The following table is a summary of the winter sports accidents recorded by PisteHors.com for the 05-06 season. This covers a nivological year, from the 1st October 2005 to the 30th September 2006. It is just a small cross section of off-piste and winter sports accidents although the figures for avalanche fatalities is complete.

An analysis of backcountry and off-piste accidents for the season is available for download.

Date Injuries Deaths Range Department Location Experience Activity Cause Remarks Rescue Nationality Time altitude Aspect Risk
3/Dec/2005 0 1 Pyrenees Ariège étangs de Fontargente   Climbing/Ski Touring Avalanche   Beacon/PGHM Spanish        
3/Dec/2005 2 0 Pyrenees Hautes-Pyrénées Gavarnie   Walkers Avalanche   Beacon/Self          
8/Dec/2005 0 1 Massif-Central Cantal Le Lioran/l'Aiguillon PGHM Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Piste Control - deep burial Beacon/PGHM French a.m.      
10/Dec/2005 1 0 Chablais Haute-Savoie Col et lac d'Anterne Ski Touring Avalanche Fracture to spine       2250 N n/c
11/Dec/2005 1 0 Pyrenees Hautes-Pyrénées Piau - Hourquete de Chermentaz   Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Injured Knee PGHM Spanish 12h55 2200 N  
18/Dec/2005 0 1 Haute-Tarentaise Savoie Tignes   Off Piste Snowboarding Avalanche Victim found by avy dog Piste Patrol English   2500 N 3
19/Dec/2005 0 1 Massif-Central Cantal Puy-Mary Local Snow shoeing Fall   PGM French   1400    
31/Dec/2005 0 1 Maurienne Savoie Le Corbier   Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Found using beacon Piste Patrol French 12h00     3
1/Jan/2006 1 0 Bornes Haute-Savoie Romme sur Cluses   Ski Touring Avalanche Found using beacon, glove visible Other skiers French       4
1/Jan/2006 1 0 Haute-Tarentaise Savoie Tignes/Sache   Off Piste Skiing Avalanche       14h30     4
1/Jan/2006 0 1 Vanoise Savoie Courchevel/Suisses   Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Probe search Piste Patrol American 14h00     4
1/Jan/2006 0 1 Maurienne Savoie Valloire/Crey-Rond local/alone Ski Touring Avalanche   CRS French 13h30 2150   4
1/Jan/2006 1 1 Belledonne Savoie Saint Colomban des Villards/Combe du Tepey CAF Lyon Ski Touring Avalanche Beacon CRS French 16h30 1800 W 4
1/Jan/2006 0 2 Mont-Blanc Haute-Savoie Goûter couloir   Climbing Fall[2]   PGHM Ukrainian       4
3/Jan/2006 1 0 Pyrénées Hautes-Pyrénées Luz-Ardiden   Off Piste Snowboarding Fall Probe Search - buried snow hole Piste Patrol         -
5/Jan/2006 0 1 Belledonne Isère les Sept Laux/Pouta FFME group Off Piste Sking Fall 100m. fall over cliffs PGHM   15h45     -
5/Jan/2006 0 1 Ecrins Hautes-Alpes Fressinières Hit by icefall Ice Climbing Fall     Greek       -
6/Jan/2006 1 0 Ecrins Isère Freney d'Oisans/Bons Severe injuries Ice Climbing Fall   PGHM French       -
8/Jan/2006 0 1 Ecrins Hautes-Alpes Fressinières Sector closed due to danger Ice Climbing Fall     Italian       -
11/Jan/2006 0 1 Mont-Blanc Haute-Savoie les Houches   Ice Climbing Fall 150 m fall after harness failed PGHM Swiss       -
19/Jan/2006 1 1 Vanoise Savoie les Menuires/La Gratte Guided Group Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Guide equipped with ABS Guide/PGHM/Piste Patrol French/British 13h30 2550 N 4
19/Jan/2006 1 2 Tarentaise Savoie Combe des Lanchettes/Villaroger Guided Group Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Equipped with ABS Guide/PGHM French 10h30 2400 N/E 4
19/Jan/2006 0 1 Ecrins Isère Pied Moutet/les Deux Alpes Piste Patrol Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Beacon Colleague French 14h10 2000 S/E 3
19/Jan/2006 0 1 Ecrins Isère Pied Moutet/les Deux Alpes Local Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Beacon switched off PGHM/Piste Patrol French 14h20 2000 S/E 3
20/Jan/2006 0 1 Lauzière Savoie Crête de Lachat Local/Experienced Ski Touring Avalanche Beacon Friends/PGHM French 12h40 1800 S/E 4
20/Jan/2006 0 1 Bauges Savoie Ecole/Bellevaux Alone Ski Touring Avalanche Beacon Found on Saturday by skier French   1800   4
24/Jan/2006 1 0 Mont Blanc Savoie Aiguilles Rouge Trainee Ski Instructor Ski Touring Cornice Fall     French 11h00 2200   -
24/Jan/2006 1 0 Vercors Isère Pic Saint Michel local Ski Touring 10m. Fall into pothole   CRS French        
28/Jan/2006 0 2 Mont-Blanc Haute-Savoie Torrent des Favrands Local Climbing Avalanche     French       3
28/Jan/2006 0 1 Tarentaise Savoie Combe des Lanchettes/Villaroger   Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Beacon/Surface Indication PGHM French   2300 N/E 3
29/Jan/2006 0 1 Haute-Tarentaise Savoie Tignes/Sache Group crossing between pistes Skiing Avalanche Dog/Probe Piste Patrol/CRS Polish 12h00 2400   3
29/Jan/2006 0 1 Haute-Tarentaise Savoie Val d'Isère/Grand Vallons Group with instructor Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Beacon Instructor French     N 3
29/Jan/2006 0 1 Bauges Savoie Dent des Portes Swept over cliffs Ski Touring Avalanche     French       3
29/Jan/2006 0 1 Chablais Haute-Savoie Dent d’Oche   Ski Touring Avalanche     French 15h30     3
29/Jan/2006 1 0 Belledonne Isère les Sept Laux local Skiing Fall     French       -
29/Jan/2006 0 1 Ubaye Alpes de Haute-Provence Allos les Seignus Instructor Off Piste Snowboarding Avalanche Beacon Brother French       3
31/Jan/2006 1 3 Dévoluy Hautes-Alpes Vallon d’Ane Soldiers on course Ski Touring Avalanche Beacon Group/PGHM French   2000   3
2/Feb/2006 0 1 Embrunnais Hautes-Alpes Eyssalette Local/Alone Ski Touring Avalanche Beacon PGHM French   2000   3
2/Feb/2006 0 1 Mercantour Alpes-du-Sud Isola Group with instructor Off Piste Skiing Avalanche     French       3
18/Feb/2006 1 0 Mercantour Alpes-du-Sud Auron/Cimetiere des dames Piste Patrol Off Piste Skiing Avalanche     French 11h30     4
20/Feb/2006 0 1 Maurienne Savoie Le Corbier Group Off Piste Snowboarding Avalanche Dog/Probe search CRS/Pisteurs Dutch 10h50 1900   4
20/Feb/2006 0 1 Oisans Isère Confolens Experienced/Local Snowshoeing Avalanche     French 13h00     4
20/Feb/2006 0 1 Mercantour Alpes-du-Sud Isola Killed from injuries Off Piste Skiing Avalanche     French       4
20/Feb/2006 0 1 Ubaye Alpes de Haute-Provence Pra Loup Head injuries Off Piste Skiing Avalanche     French       4
20/Feb/2006 0 1 Ubaye Alpes de Haute-Provence Méolans-Revel Local/Alone Ski Touring Avalanche     British       4
20/Feb/2006 1 0 Oisans Isère les Deux Alpes/Bellecombe Victim carried over cliffs Off Piste Snowboarding Avalanche Arm visible Piste Patrol   12h00 2100   4
21/Feb/2006 0 1 Mont-Blanc Haute-Savoie Tour Ronde   Ski Touring Crevasse Fall   PGHM Belgium 10h30 3300   -
21/Feb/2006 1 0 Mont-Blanc Haute-Savoie Le Tour Severe Leg/Arm injuries Off Piste Snowboarding Avalanche Partial Burial PGHM New Zealand 10h15     3
21/Feb/2006 3 1 Ecrins Hautes-Alpes Argentière-la-Bessée   Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Accompanied by instructor CRS/Piste Patrol from Puy-St Vincent British 12h30 1900   4
21/Feb/2006 1 0 Oisans Isère les Deux Alpes/Gours Severe injuries/hypothermia Off Piste Skiing Avalanche     French       3
21/Feb/2006 2 0 Beaufortin Savoie Arêches/tête de Cuvy large 400m slide Off Piste Skiing/Snowboarding Avalanche   Piste Patrol/CRS French     W 4
21/Feb/2006 1 0 Tarentaise Savoie Tignes Broken Arm Off Piste Snowboarding Avalanche             4
21/Feb/2006 1 0 Belledonne Isère les Sept Laux/Pleynet Broken Wrist Off Piste Skiing Fall     French       -
21/Feb/2006 0 1 Embrunais Hautes-Alpes les Orres/pic de Boussolenc Skiing alone Ski Touring Avalanche Body visible on surface   French   2100   4
22/Feb/2006 1 2 Ubaye Alpes de Haute-Provence Pra Loup Teenagers Off Piste Snowboarding Avalanche     French 13h30     4
22/Feb/2006 0 1 Maurienne Savoie la Toussuire Piste Patrol Off Piste Skiing Avalanche             4
22/Feb/2006 0 1 Mont-Blanc Haute-Savoie Saint-Gervais Local - Teenager Off Piste Skiing Avalanche     French       3
22/Feb/2006 3 0 Maurienne Savoie Valfréjus/Pountabinia   Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Beacons         N 3
22/Feb/2006 0 1 Mercantour Alpes-Maritimes Le Boréon   Ski Touring Avalanche Surface indication   French       4
25/Feb/2006 0 1 Tarentaise Savoie Les Arcs/Couloir de l'Equipe Group 4 Ski Instructors Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Beacon   French PM 3200 S/E 3
25/Feb/2006 2 0 Tarentaise Savoie Les Arcs/Col d'Entreporte Local Off Piste Skiing Avalanche     French AM 2600 S/E 3
25/Feb/2006 1 1 Aspe-Ossau Pyrenees-Atlantiques Gourette Experienced/Local Ski Touring Avalanche     French       3
25/Feb/2006 1 0 Oisans Isère les Deux Alpes   Off Piste Skiing Fall 50m over cliffs   French       -
25/Feb/2006 1 0 Oisans Isère l'Alpe d'Huez/Sarenne   Mountain Biking Fall       AM     -
25/Feb/2006 0 1 Beaufortain Haute-Savoie Contamines Montjoie/col des Chasseurs Alone Off Piste Skiing Fall   PGHM French PM 2160   -
27/Feb/2006 1 1 Briançonnais Hautes-Alpes Montgenèvre/Vallon de la Doire With Guides Off Piste Skiing Avalanche   Guide/PGHM American 13h00 2500 N/W 4
27/Feb/2006 1 0 Guillestrois Hautes-Alpes Risoul/pointe de Razisse double break to leg Off Piste Snowboarding Avalanche         2200   4
27/Feb/2006 2 0 Mont-Blanc Haute-Savoie Eperon des Cosmiques Guide & Client Climbing Avalanche     French/British       2
28/Feb/2006 1 0 Belledonne Isère les Sept Laux broken femur Off Piste Skiing Fall   PGHM Belgium        
1/Mar/2006 1 0 Osians Isère la Grave/Vallons de la Meije broken ankle Off Piste Skiing Fall   PGHM          
1/Mar/2006 0 1 Queyras Hautes-Alpes les Abriès/crete du Gilly Local man with wife Ski Touring Avalanche   Piste Patrol French 12h00 2400   3
1/Mar/2006 0 1 Maurienne Savoie Valloire   Off Piste Skiing Avalanche   Piste Patrol   12h00     3
6/Mar/2006 1 0 Haute-Tarentaise Savoie La Plagne/Combe du Renard Group of 7 with instructor Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Avalanche Beacons Group/CRS des Alpes         4
6/Mar/2006 1 0 Vanoise Savoie Courchevel/Suisses   Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Probe/Dog     14h00   N 4
6/Mar/2006 0 1 Haute-Tarentaise Savoie Val d'Isere/Manchet Season Workers Off Piste Skiing Avalanche Beacon Group Swedish 12h30 2200 W 4
6/Mar/2006 0 1 Haute-Tarentaise Savoie Tignes/Tufs   Off Piste Snowboarding Avalanche Dog   American 14h00 2100 N/W 4
6/Mar/2006 1 0 Rontondo Haute-Corse GR20/Pinzi Curbini   Ski Touring Avalanche Visible on surface Fire brigade/PGMH French 14h00 1750 S 3
6/Mar/2006 2 0 Briançonnais Hautes-Alpes Monetier-les-Bains/vallon du fontenil In woods Snowshoeing Avalanche   PGHM Belgium 15h00 1850   4
7/Mar/2006 1 2 Lauzière Savoie St François Longchamp Local guide with group of 3 Ski Touring Avalanche   Piste Patrol French   2250 E 4
7/Mar/2006 1 1 Bauges Savoie Jarsy/col d’Orgeval   Snowshoeing Fall   PGHM     1700   2
7/Mar/2006 0 1 Pyrenees Andorra Arinsal/Galliner   Off Piste Skiing Avalanche         2500   3
7/Mar/2006 1 0 Oisans Isère les Deux Alpes/Gours   Off Piste Snowboarding Avalanche no beacons           4
9/Mar/2006 2 1 Mercantour Alpes-Maritimes Auron Rescue Exercise Walking Avalanche   Group French       3
11/Mar/2006 0 1 Chablais Haute-Savoie Bernex/Pelluaz Piste Patrol - Alone Off Piste Skiing Avalanche     French 12h00     4
12/Mar/2006 0 1 Chartreuse Savoie Ruchère/Petit Som Alone Ski Touring Avalanche no beacon CRS des Alpes French   1600 W 4
12/Mar/2006 1 0 Dévoluy Drôme Lus la croix haute   Cross Country Skiing Avalanche   Witnesses         4
13/Mar/2005 2 1 Briançonnais Hautes-Alpes Serre Chevalier/Prorel Guide Off Piste Skiing Avalanche       12h30 2550 E 4
14/Mar/2006 1 0 Vercors Isère Pic Saint-Michel broken leg Snowshoeing Fall   PGHM          
14/Mar/2006 0 1 Haute-Tarentaise Savoie Peisey-Nancroix/Aiguille Grive   Off Piste Snowboarding Avalanche no beacon   British 13h15     3
18/Mar/2006 1 0 Oisans Isère les Deux Alpes local - shoulder injury Off Piste Skiing Fall   PGHM French        
18/Mar/2006 1 0 Oisans Isère l'Alpe d'Huez/Vaujany knee injury Ski Touring Fall   PGHM French        
22/Mar/2006 0 1 Oisans Isère la Grave/Vallons de la Meije 40 meter fall Off Piste Snowboarding Fall   Guide/PGHM German        
01/Apr/2006 0 1 Ecrins Hautes-Alpes Monetier/Tête de Sainte Marguerite   Climbing Avalanche   PGHM Spanish 12h30 2400 N/W 3
03/Apr/2006 0 2 Oisans Isère la Grave/couloir de Polichinelle 150 meter fall Off-Piste Skiing Fall both guides CRS des Alpes American 17h30 2000 N 2
08/Apr/2006 2 0 Tarentaise Savoie la Plagne/Dôme des Picherès in steep couloir Off-Piste Skiing Avalanche avalanche beacons CRS des Alpes   12h00 2500 N 1
08/Apr/2006 1 0 Oisans Isère Vaujanay 70 meter fall Off-Piste Snowboarding Fall   CRS des Alpes British 14h15 2200 E 1
08/Apr/2006 1 0 Belledonne Isère Chamrousse/lac Roberts head injuries Off-Piste Skiing Fall   CRS des Alpes     2000   1
08/Apr/2006 1 2 Mont-Blanc Haute-Savoie Vallorcine/aiguille du Belvédère cornice collapse/local Ski Touring/Climbing Fall   PGHM French 12h00 2750   2
20/Apr/2006 1 0 Belledonne Isère Chamrousse Collision with rocks Off-Piste Skiing Collision   CRS des Alpes French       -
20/Apr/2006 0 1 Aravis Haute-Savoie Saint-Jean-de-Sixt 100 meter fall Snow Shoeing Fall   Gendarmerie French   1500    
21/Apr/2006 0 1 Tarentaise Savoie Tignes/Grande Motte 70 meter fall after removing skis Off Piste Skiing Fall   Piste patrol British 14h00 2800    
23/Apr/2006 0 1 Mont-Blanc Haute-Savoie Grandes Jorasses   Ski Touring Avalanche   PGHM Italian 15h00 2500   2
29/Apr/2006 0 1? Oisans Isère Les Deux Alpes   Off-Piste Snowboarding Missing              
30/Apr/2006 0 1 Belledonne Isère Col de Lances local man Ski Touring Fall     French 11h45 2200    
30/Apr/2006 0 1 Belledonne Isère Gd Lance de Domene local man Ski Touring Fall     French 12h00 2700    
1/May/2006 5 0 Mont-Blanc Haute-Savoie Mont Maudit Group of 15 hit by slide Ski Touring Avalanche         3500   2
3/Jun/2006 0 1 Beaufortin Savoie Aiguille du Grand Fond 400m fall on ice Snow shoeing Fall     French am      
3/Jun/2006 1 0 Belledonne Isère Rocher Blanc fall on ice Ski Touring Fall       am      
4/Jun/2006 0 1 Mont-Blanc Haute-Savoie Aiguille du Midi Fall from ridge Ski Touring Fall     Belgium   3500    
11/Jun/2006 0 1 Belledonne Isère Pic du Frêne 200 m fall Ski Touring Fall experienced   French am 2800    
19/Aug/2006 4 2 Mont-Blanc Haute-Savoie Mont-Blanc du Tacul Guided group Climbing Avalanche no beacons PGHM French/Swiss pm 3900 N  

Avalanche Fatalities By Activity

Ski Touring   20
Off Piste Skiing[1] 22
Snowboard Touring   0
Off Piste Snowboarding   7
Snowshoeing   1
Climbing 5
Walking[1] 1
Skiing 1
Total for the season 57

[1] Includes Member of Gendarmerie involved in Piste Control work at Le Lioran on the 8/Dec/2005 , Les Deux Alpes Piste Patrol on the 19/Jan/2006, St Colomban Piste Patrol 22/2, a member of the PGHM at Auron 9/3 during a training exercise and Bernex Piste Patrol 11/3.

Last updated: 12/December/2006

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