Fresh Snow In The French Alps Results In Two Tragic Avalanche Accidents
After a dry snow year in the Alps, the allure of fresh tracks on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 was hard to pass up. Unfortunately, the unstable snowpack resulted in several tragic avalanche incidents in the French Alps when two skiers were killed and another seriously injured – all in separate avalanches.
According to PisteHors.com, rescue teams responded to 8 separate avalanche incidents in Val d’Isere. Two notable avalanches injured and killed skiers.
The first avalanche was triggered at approximately 10:30 AM, when 3 skiers traversed to the Cairn (2700m) from the top of the Bellevarde track. The skiers triggered a 120m long, 30m wide, and 80cm deep avalanche. Rescuers were quick to respond. One skier was seriously injured and was transported by helicopter to Grenoble. All three were lucky to survive.
A second avalanche struck a group of Spanish skiers one hour later. This slide was 30m wide and 100cm deep. It also happened in Val d’Isere above Santon – a closed run. This avalanche claimed the life of a 37-year-old Spanish skier. Henry’s Avalanche Talk writes that the man had no avalanche transceiver. RIP.
A third avalanche near Saint-Colombian-des-Villards (west of Val d’Isere) near the resort of Sybelles claimed the life of a 30-year old season worker from the Czech Republic. This skier was skiing off-piste terrain at around 14:00 when he triggered an avalanche. UnofficialNetworks writes that he had all necessary avalanche safety gear plus an avalanche airbag. RIP.
This is very sad news coming from the French Alps. Thoughts are with the friends and families.
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Earlier this week, two Lithuanians died in an avalanche while climbing Mont Blanc. It’s been a tragic week in the Alps. Be safe out there.
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Read more about these deadly avalanches from these sources:
- DailyMail.co.uk
- Valdinet.com
- Henry’s Avalanche Talk
- UnofficialNetworks
- PisteHors.com
- Radio Val d’Isere
