The French Alps have experienced a series of avalanches this weekend, highlighting the critical risks of off-piste skiing and the necessity of strict safety precautions. Authorities have emphasized the importance of vigilance as avalanche danger remains high across several regions.
Fatal Avalanche in Val d’Isère
On Sunday, January 12, two Estonian skiers lost their lives in an avalanche while skiing off-piste in Val d’Isère, Savoie. Part of a group of six, the skiers were traversing the north facing Cugnaï area at around 2900 meters without avalanche safety equipment when a 100-meter-wide and 300-meter-long slab of snow broke loose.
Emergency responders, including 20 ski patrollers, instructors, and a station doctor, worked tirelessly to rescue the group. Four people were buried in total—one was quickly extracted, another was found breathing, and two others, who had been trapped for over 30 minutes, could not be revived despite resuscitation efforts.The lack of avalanche beacons would have slowed rescue efforts. This is the third fatal incident this season where the victims were not equipped with avalanche transceivers.
On Friday we highlighted a report from local avalanche forecasters of a critical avalanche situation on North West slopes due to a persistent weak layer in the snowpack.
The avalanche bulletin for the Val d'Isere area was 4/5 (HIGH) above 1900 meters, 1/5 (LOW) below that altitude. Something that is comparatively rare but high altitude rain in the snowpack has stabilized conditions with a return to colder temperatures. The bulletin warned of wind blown snow and the persistent weak layer observed on Friday which will be a factor throughout this season. A number of soft slabs are present that can be easily triggered by a single skier formed by the fresh snow and strong winds last week. Slabs are 50 to 70cm but above 2400 meters they can triggered a deeper weak layer resulting in large (size 4 - 2 meters deep) slides
Multiple Avalanches in the Hautes-Alpes
In the Hautes-Alpes, the Briançon High Mountain Gendarmerie (PGHM) reported four major avalanches in the northern sector on Saturday, all fortunately without fatalities. These included a significant avalanche near the Crête de Malamorte in Orcières-Merlette, where the snow broke across a width of 600 to 800 meters. Another avalanche in the Vallon du Fournel in Argentière-la-Bessée extended over a distance of more than 1,000 meters.
Avalanche that broken on a PWL in the snowpack (photo: PGHM Briançon)
Pierre-Marie Dupré, PGHM commander, warned of continued high avalanche risks, rated 4/5 in certain regions such as Champsaur, Pelvoux, and Thabor. He urged skiers to exercise extreme caution and avoid risky terrain.A warning that was repeated on Saturday on the PGHM Briançon's facebook page "we were involved in multiple avalanche search and rescues yesterday and we call for exteme care during your trips to the mountains due to the High avalanche risk currently 4/5. Be prepared and carry safety equipment."
Close Call for Ski Tourers in Savoie
Two ski tourers narrowly escaped disaster on Sunday while ascending the Grand Fourchon peak near Valmeinier in Savoie. The pair, using splitboards, found themselves surrounded by avalanches as the snowpack cracked beneath them. Alerted around 9 a.m., Rescuers from the PGHM Modane quickly arrived by helicopter and successfully evacuated the two men unharmed.
Officials reiterated the importance of checking avalanche risk bulletins and weather forecasts before venturing out. “It’s vital to avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees and stick to safer terrain,” a PGHM spokesperson advised.
Ongoing Avalanche Risks
The avalanche risk remains significant across the Alps, with a "High" rating (4/5) in areas such as Maurienne, Haute-Maurienne, and Haute-Tarentaise, and a "Considerable" risk (3/5) in other parts of the northern Alps. As fresh snow accumulates and weather conditions fluctuate, authorities continue to stress the importance of proper safety gear and informed decision-making.
This weekend’s events serve as a sobering reminder of the hazards inherent to mountain sports. Whether skiing off-piste or engaging in ski touring, preparation, vigilance, and respect for safety guidelines are paramount to preventing future tragedies.
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