In another tragic incident in the Pyrenees over the weekend, 2 Spanish skiers from the Basque region were killed by an avalanche near Formigal on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees.
Their bodies were found on Monday on the south face of the Cuyalarat. They had left the parking lot at the Col du Pourtalet on the French/Spanish border Friday, apparently heading for Anayet Peak in Spain.
According to the mountain rescue team, both skiers were experienced off-piste skiers/climbers and it appears that they were in the process of climbing with skis and skins on the south face of the Cuyalarat when the avalanche occurred.
Details can be found here (in French):
http://www.skipass.com/forums/enmontagne/direct/pyrenees/sujet-60309.html
The Col du Pourtalet is located here (link to viamichelin.fr):
It is well worth taking a look at this video an avalanche at Piau on the 28th November filmed by Jerome Buc on his helmet cam:-
http://www.skipass.com/articles/saison0506/avalanche6500.php
The avalanche triggered on a convex rollover - a classic stress point in the snowpack on a north facing, windloaded slope. Although the slope doesn’t look too steep I have skied there and it is over 30 degrees. Although the avalanche is relatively small Jerome was lucky not to have escaped without injury.