A backcountry skier lost his life in an avalanche on Sunday afternoon in Bessans (Savoie). The massive snow slide, measuring 200 meters wide, occurred beneath Pointe d'Andagne at nearly 3,000 meters altitude.
The avalanche struck around 4:00 PM beneath Pointe d'Andagne (3,217 meters) in the Bessans region. The victim was skiing with a companion who managed to locate and retrieve him using an avalanche transceiver (DVA) before alerting authorities. Initial responders included ski patrollers from nearby Bonneval, followed shortly by the CRS rescue team from Modane. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, the skier did not survive.
According to mountain rescue teams, the avalanche was exceptionally large, one-meter deep and spanning 200 meters in width.
The Avalanche Bulletin for Haute Maurienne gave the risk level as Considerable (3) above 2000 meters, Limited (2) below. It went on warn of the dangers of skier triggered avalanches saying there were numerous small powdery slabs present in the fresh snow. Skiers could trigger avalanches of small to medium size (1 to 2), which could escalate into large or very large slides (size 3 or 4) due to weak underlying layers. It warned of a problem of Persistent weak layers in wind-transported snow which are present on broad north-to-west-facing slopes, these layers remain highly reactive and can lead to fractures of very large slabs, potentially resulting in major avalanches (size 3 to 4).
This incident highlights the continued avalanche risks in the Haute Maurienne region. Skiers and mountaineers are urged to exercise caution, check daily avalanche forecasts, and carry appropriate safety equipment before heading into backcountry areas.