The six climbers were French, a young man of 16 with five adults ages from 42 to 64. It seems likely it was a simple fall taking both groups. The accident was in the brèche de la Plate des Agneaux, which is not particularity technical, you can climb it unroped on foot without major risk (with crampons though). It is around 45 degrees at the exit but may have a cornice. It seems the idea was for the group to climb to the 3614 meter pic de Neige Cordier then re descend to the Ecrins refuge on the south side. The groups had left the refuge d’Alpe above Villar d’Arene on Saturday morning at 06h00. Both groups were wearing crampons and carrying ice axes.
