Avalanche
A ski tourer was killed Sunday, March 15, after an avalanche swept through an off-piste zone near La Grave in the French Hautes-Alpes region, marking the second deadly avalanche of the season in the same area as the famed French freeride destination.
The avalanche occurred around midday on Sunday in the Trois Évêchés sector above the Guisane valley in the Hautes-Alpes, across the valley from La Grave, an area known for steep terrain popular with experienced backcountry skiers. According to authorities, two ski tourers traveling outside marked terrain were caught in the slide. One skier died in the avalanche, while the second was buried but later rescued with serious injuries.
- Related: 2 Foreign Skiers Killed in Avalanche at La Grave, France, After Entering “Strongly Discouraged” Zone
Rescue teams from the CRS Alpes unit based in Briançon responded to the incident early Sunday afternoon. The injured skier suffered significant injuries, including a fractured femur, and was evacuated by helicopter to the Grenoble University Hospital Centre for treatment.
The identity of the deceased skier had not yet been formally confirmed as of Sunday evening, according to the public prosecutor in Gap. Authorities have opened an investigation into the incident. The inquiry has been assigned to the CRS Alpes mountain rescue unit.
The accident marks the second fatal avalanche this winter in the area with a prior avalanche occurring at La Grave in February, a destination internationally known for its extreme off-piste terrain and backcountry skiing. The resort’s high-alpine terrain attracts expert skiers from around the world but carries inherent avalanche risk, particularly outside controlled areas. In February, two Polish nationals died during one of Europe’s deadliest avalanche periods in recent memory.
Avalanche danger has fluctuated across the French Alps this season amid changing snow conditions, with authorities repeatedly urging skiers and tourers to exercise caution when venturing into unmanaged terrain. The death in La Grave takes the total number of avalanche fatalities in France to 31. The European Alps saw between 50-100 cm (20-40 inches) of snowfall on the weekend.
A previous version containing inaccuracies was corrected on March 16 at 8:55 p.m. PST
What the hack
A sad accident in the back country far away from any resort. A Skitouring accident!
So why showing a picture of the La Grave gondola?? Clickbaiting???
A agree, really stupid. Instead of the gondola of a random place, the article should better place a picture of the avalanche or the actual location where it happened. I am going up there today, I’ll see what I can do.