Two skiers, part of a group of three, have been killed by an avalanche this morning in the Queyras. The victims were skiing the Crête de Combe Crosse at 2,800 meters altitude when they triggered a slab and were taken some 600 meters down a couloir opposite the village of Fontgillarde. Initial reports say they were skiing off piste from the ski resort of St Veran. The survivor was able to grab a tree during the slide. He alerted the rescue services at 10h40 and was able to find the first victim and attempt resuscitation but in vain. The second victim was recovered using the signal from his avalanche transceiver by a team from the PGHM in Briancon.
Eight people have been killed in three separate incidents in the French Alps over the last week. The avalanche risk was 3 at the time with all slopes at risk. The bulletin warned of a considerable avalanche risk on slopes in the lee of the recent north-east to south-easterly winds. There is also a risk of wet snow slides on steeper south facing slopes that are exposed to sun. Snow was powder from 1800 to 2000 meters altitude.
