A snowboarder in his fifties died on Monday, March 17, after falling into a crevasse while descending the Vallée Blanche near Chamonix. The man was riding with a professionally guided group when a snow bridge collapsed beneath him, sending him nearly 30 meters (100 feet) into the glacier below, according to Chamonix.net.
The incident occurred around noon in the area of the classic Vallée Blanche route, a popular but high-consequence off-piste descent. The group immediately alerted authorities, prompting a rapid response from the Chamonix Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon (PGHM), who arrived on scene with the support of Dragon 74 and Choucas 74 helicopters.
Despite the speed of the rescue operation, the snowboarder succumbed to his injuries at the scene. His body was later recovered and transported to the Bois helicopter base. Snow bridges—thin layers of snow that conceal deep crevasses—can appear stable but collapse without warning, especially in changing spring conditions. Officials continue to stress that while the Vallée Blanche is a bucket-list run for many, it remains serious terrain requiring proper equipment, glacier awareness, and professional oversight. Even then, the risks are still very real.
