A German backcountry skier was killed in an ice fall near the Diavolezza ski area, part of the Engadin St. Moritz ski area in Switzerland on Sunday, May 5, 2024. The man was part of a group of three backcountry skiers who were traveling from Diavolezza to Piz Palü and from there down to the valley via the Morteratsch glacier. Around noon, an ice avalanche broke at the Fuorcla Bellavista which is at an altitude of 12,087 feet or 3,684 meters. The man was swept away and buried by the ice and snow masses while his two teammates were able to avoid the ice fall. Despite rapid detection and immediate resuscitation, the man died on the avalanche field.
The high alpine route is a popular yet difficult and often dangerous tour starting at the top of the Diavolezza gondola station at 9,770 feet or 2,978 meters. From there the ascent to Piz Palü takes you to 12,792 feet (3,899 meters) and down via the Morteratsch glacier. Piz Palü rose to fame in the 1920s after the making of the iconic silent movie “The While Hell of Piz Palü” by Leni Riefenstahl. The peak is known for its treacherous avalanches and deep crevasses. The route travels along the Swiss-Italian border and can also be accessed from the Italian side.
The Morteratsch Glacier is the third largest glacier in the eastern Alps with a volume of 1.2 cubic kilometers (0.3 cubic miles). In peak season, a marked but ungroomed ski route leads down the glacier from the top station at Diavolezza making it the longest glacier run in Switzerland with a length of 8 kilometers (5 miles). However, the accident occurred around 2,300 feet (700 meters) above the marked trail.
The deceased has been identified as a 59-year-old German man by the Kantonspolizei (“cantonal police”) Graubünden. Helicopters from Rega and Heli Bernina AG were in use for the rescue and transport. Together with the public prosecutor’s office, the cantonal police of Graubünden clarifies the cause of this avalanche accident.
This takes the number of fatalities from avalanche accidents in the 23/24 season in Switzerland to 19. The avalanche which resulted in a death of a hiker at Kandersteg was not deemed an avalanche death as the death resulted from rockfall subsequent to the avalanche slide.
