Backcountry
Avalanche
A 27-year-old Swiss man tragically lost his life on Friday, December 27, while backcountry skiing near the Glacier de Cheilon in the Arolla region of Switzerland. The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m., as the man and his companion traversed towards the Pas de Chèvre, a well-known mountain route marked by its steep iron ladders, which cross the rock face, and rugged alpine scenery. The Pas de Chèvre is part of the Haute Route, the legendary high-altitude route that links Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland. The Pas de Chèvre is a notable section along the Haute Route and often considered to be one of the most memorable, if daunting, passages on the Haute Route.
The pair were maintaining a safe distance from each other when a snow mass suddenly gave way under the victim’s skis, triggering an avalanche. The cascading snow carried him down the slope, burying him under its weight. Emergency responders, including a helicopter team from Air-Glaciers, arrived promptly at the scene. Rescue specialists and avalanche dog handlers quickly located the man beneath the snow and initiated resuscitation measures. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
Authorities, including the Valais Cantonal Police and the Cantonal Rescue Organization, responded swiftly to the incident. The prosecutor’s office has since opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the avalanche.
The Arolla Ski Resort/Espace Dent Blanche, located in the Swiss canton of Valais, is a small ski resort with five ski lifts and 50 kilometers (31 miles) of ski runs. The Arolla region is renowned for its stunning alpine landscapes and challenging backcountry ski routes. The Glacier de Cheilon and the Pas de Chèvre are popular among seasoned mountaineers and backcountry skiers and split-boarders seeking adventure in the high-altitude wilderness. However, the area’s dramatic terrain and heavy snowfall make it prone to avalanches, a persistent risk despite advanced safety protocols. Arolla has seen about half a meter (20 inches) of fresh snow in the recent snowstorm which is poorly bonded with older snow. The avalanche risk for the region is at Level 3 of 5 on the European scale.
[UPDATE: December 29]
The deceased has been identified as Pascal Buchs, a member of the French-speaking Swiss club ANCO and the Finnish club Tampereen Pyrintö and has been part of the elite team of Swiss Orienteering since 2018. Buchs has competed at World Cup level and won several medals at Swiss championships. Among his greatest successes were the second place in the relay at the Military World Cup last fall in Spain, top ten rankings at the Junior World Cup 2017 in Finland and a twelfth place over the long distance at the World Cup in Italy 2021.
