Two ski tourers have been buried by an avalanche close to the Col de Lechaud (1704m) in the Chartreuse. The col is on the normal route to either the Petit or Grand Som mountains. The avalanche occured around 12h30 and measured 80 meters wide. Eye witnesses phoned the rescue services and were able to recover the victims using their own equipment. Buried for around 20 minutes one of the victims was suffering from hypothermia, the other was found in a state of cardio-vascular arrest and the eye-witnesses administered CPR. The victims were taken to Grenoble University Hospital by the PGHM helicopter. Both victims, aged in their early 30s, were local.

After a clear, cold spell the weather was overcast today with warmer temperatures with light snow which was being transported on the cols and summits by strong winds. There is over a meter of snow depth on the Lechaud at the moment and a number of natural purges can be observed in the Chartreuse range. With the arrival of the foehn backcountry travellers should take a lot of care over the next few days.

The victim died in hospital this afternoon.

http://www.ledauphine.com/isere-sud/2012/12/13/isere-une-avalanche-emporte-deux-randonneurs-un-blesse-grave

Sad news - I wondered if something was up - working in Crolles this week & there was a chopper buzzing about at lunchtime up behind…

Ah you should pop in and have a cuppa.

It could well be the helicopter, they come from le Versoud, then fly right over our house (there must be an X on the roof) and then via the col du Coq.

I went to the Belledonne today, got as far as the car parking before deciding not to tour. The snow seemed pretty heavy and there were slides in people’s gardens! According to people in the Chartreuse it was very very windy but skiing was ok in the trees.