There was another avalanche at the pointe d’Andagne at 2600 mètres altitude in the Maurienne started by five young snowboarders. One of them was buried but was rapidly located by the resort’s piste patrol and heliported to hospital in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne with hypothermia.
With this so early in the season lets hope we do not see a repeat or exceeding of last years tragic 57 deaths. I worry that if we do this will be more ammunition for those that wish to bring in rules and regulations and enforcement of off piste areas and skiing generally.
Bon Annee.
There are lots of skiers that are surviving forays off-piste. But if people want to ski known avalanche slopes, there will be more fatalities.
The fact that even avalanche professionals and experienced “montagnards” are getting caught in avalanches is disappointing.
There was another accident today when three members of the team marking out a ski mounaineering competition at l’Alpe d’Huez triggered an avalanche. The slide occured at 10h00 at 2100 meters altitude on a south-west slope. The slide measured 100x200m and also buried some of their gear. All three were rescued without injury.
A freind watched the avalanche - his words ‘just saw two guys set off and get caught in an avalanche.....’ The inference is that they caused the avalanche themselves.
Wait and see what the insurance company say about this accident (see earlier story of the two brits caught in Tignes April 2005). Experienced - presumably had to climb to get to the slope - high avalanche risk etc...........