A 70-year-old ski tourer died on Saturday 6 June after being caught in a snow slide above the Les Arcs ski area in Savoie. The accident happened at around 1:50 pm on the east face of the Aiguille du Saint-Esprit (3414m), in the commune of Villaroger, above Arcs 2000 and close to the Grand Col glacier, north of Mont Pourri.
According to initial reports, the skier, from Bourg-Saint-Maurice, was touring with another person when he triggered a small avalanche. He was swept away by the slide and carried over a rock band of around 50 metres. His death was the result of the fall.
The second skier, aged 60, was not caught by the avalanche. He was taken into care by mountain rescuers from the CRS Alpes and was physically uninjured, although shocked by the incident.
The rescue operation was carried out by CRS mountain rescuers from Albertville. As the mountain rescue helicopter based in Modane was unavailable, the Dragon 38 civil security helicopter from Isère was used to recover the victim’s body.
The avalanche bulletin for the Haute-Tarentaise massif, issued the previous day, rated the avalanche risk as low (1/5) below 3,200 metres and limited (2/5) above that altitude. The bulletin described a return to summer-like conditions almost everywhere, with some cold snow remaining on high north-facing slopes.
The main risks identified were rare small wind slabs on very high, steep north-facing slopes above around 3,200 metres, and small wet snow slides triggered by skiers as recent snow warmed during the day. The bulletin also warned of a poor overnight refreeze below 3,000 metres and snow becoming sticky and heavy in the sun.
Snow cover was described as below average for the season following a recent warm spell. Skiable snow was estimated to start at around 2,200 metres on north-facing slopes and 2,700 to 2,800 metres on less steep south-facing slopes.
The accident highlights the particular risks of late-season ski touring, when even a small snow slide can have fatal consequences if it occurs above cliffs or steep rocky terrain.