It is not just the Alps that are having some strange weather (cold and snowy at altitude with continuing avalanche risk above 3000 meters) Australia is also being hit by some big storms with almost 4

In case you missed this last winter a look at how cats could take over from dogs searching for avalanche victims in the backcountry. A video about one man, several cats and a dream.

French ski resorts have seen the number of visitors drop by 4% last winter according to the French Ski Area association: Domaines skiables de France (DSF). The DSF represents 238 ski resorts.

Ski touring groups were involved in four separate incidents in the Savoie department yesterday requiring the intervention of the rescue services.

Meteo France may have stopped its daily avalanche bulletin for this season but an avalanche that caught four skiers yesterday above Val Thorens is a reminder that the risk is still present.

The Swiss Snow and Avalanche Research Institute has published its review of the 2013/14 snow and avalanche situation.

Winter started relatively early in 2013. The first permanent snow fell in the first half of October at altitude with a major storm cycle early in November.

A ski tourer has been killed after a fall of 300 meters below the Col des Ecrins (3367 m.) in the commune of Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans at 11h00 yesterday.

A large natural avalanche caught six ski tourers, seriously injuring two in the Combe à Marion near the ski resort of la Clusaz a little after 11h00 on Sunday morning.

Another nice line for Aurelien Ducroz and his team of Doud's Charlet and Adri Coirier. The Chevalier couloir off the Petite Aiguille Verte.