The rescue services have warned ski tourers to take care over the next few days with renewed warm temperatures in the mountains. There is a lot of snow at altitude and there have been a couple of recent incidents with reports of slabs, particuarly in the Ecrins region.
On Tuesday 8th May a French ski tourer was buried under 1 meter of snow for 10 minutes by a slab under the east side of Grande Ruine at 3500m near to Villar-d’Arêne (above la Grave). He was rescued by another group. The man was taken to hospital with mild hypothermia. He was unconscious when rescued. On Monday a group of ski tourers had a narrow escape above the Col du Couard in the Grandes Rousses near to l’Alpe d’Huez. They triggered an avalanche a little after noon on Monday but no-one was taken by the slide. The rescue services were dispatched to the scene as a precaution.