2 Separate Avalanches in the French Alps Leave 3 Dead & Several Injured A bluebird day in the French Alps turned deadly on Saturday, February 15, as two separate avalanches in the Savoie region claimed three lives and left several others injured. The first avalanche struck around noon in the municipality of Arvillard, in the Belledonne massif. A group of backcountry skiers was ascending the Grands Moulins peak, which rises to 2,495 meters […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | February 15, 2025 0 Comments
[PHOTOS] Loveland Pass, CO, Closed After Avalanche Sweeps Truck Off the Road On Friday evening, an avalanche struck Loveland Pass, Colorado, sweeping a pickup truck off U.S. Highway 6. The incident occurred around 7:15 PM in an area known as Seven Sister 6, shortly after Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) officials had initiated a precautionary closure due to rising avalanche danger. Related: [UPDATED] Berthoud Pass, CO, Remains Closed as More Avalanches Impact […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 15, 2025 0 Comments
Mammoth Mountain, CA, Closed After Inbounds Avalanche Seriously Injures Patroller An avalanche at Mammoth Mountain, California, caught two ski patrollers today, prompting the resort to close for the day. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. during routine avalanche mitigation work on Lincoln Mountain, an area known for its steep, challenging terrain. Related: 2 Avalanches Reported at Palisades Tahoe, CA One patroller was successfully extracted from the scene and is responsive, […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 14, 2025 0 Comments
Skiing the Road Less Traveled: An Incredible Week in Kashmir Resting my eyes on the horizon, they settled upon Nanga Parbat of Pakistan, the ninth tallest peak in the world. My breath is drawn from my body as I feel the mountain’s immense presence; this was a spiritual experience. Our connection broke as my guide spoke into his radio, letting our group below know I was about to drop. 1… […] Trip Report Algird Zalpys | February 12, 2025 1 Comment
3 Skiers Caught in Avalanche in Dutch Draw After Ducking Rope From Park City Mountain Resort, UT On Saturday afternoon, three backcountry skiers were caught in a skier-triggered avalanche in Dutch Draw, just outside Park City Mountain Resort, Utah. The incident, which occurred at 1:15 p.m., prompted an immediate response from Summit County Search and Rescue and Park City Ski Patrol. Two skiers successfully extricated themselves from the slide, while a third was buried. The unburied skiers […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 8, 2025 0 Comments
Skier Killed in Avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT A skier was killed and another injured in an avalanche today in the Silver Fork area of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, today. Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Arlan Bennett confirmed that rescue teams responded at 12:48 p.m. The avalanche buried two skiers, both in their 50s. One managed to escape with a leg injury and was transported to the hospital, […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 8, 2025 0 Comments
Teton Range, WY, Report: Ski Cutting A Large Avalanche & Popping Poofy Pillows In Deep Snow Report from February 7, 2025 Raining at the house this morning, and wet snow on the stairs and car in Wilson, WY. I had a feeling it was still gonna wild up there. We hustled out into the mountains. Our first run was pure gold up high with deep snow, insane winds, and copious faceshots. Teton, Fox, Nate, and I […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | February 8, 2025 0 Comments
[VIDEO] German Skier Escapes Avalanche Death Thanks To Airbag A 50-year-old German man escaped death thanks to his emergency airbag after being swept away down a mountain by an avalanche. The incident happened at Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in western Europe, which straddles parts of France, Italy, and Switzerland. As the man started sliding down the slope, he could be seen inflating his anti-avalanche airbag to keep him […] Avalanche Gregg Frantz | February 7, 2025 0 Comments
Patrollers Evacuated From Closed Chairlift After Mitigation Caused Huge Avalanche at Big Sky Resort, MT During avalanche mitigation work on Wednesday, February 5, an avalanche was triggered in the Bone Crusher area at Big Sky Resort, Montana, before the resort opened. A significant amount of snow was deposited in and around the upper lift terminal of Swift Current 6. Related: Inbounds Avalanche Ushers Upper Mountain Closure at Alyeska Resort, AK The Big Sky Resort Ski […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 5, 2025 2 Comments
Group of 7 Caught and Carried in Avalanche Outside Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY, Boundary Yesterday, a group of seven triggered a large hard slab avalanche south of the boundary of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming. All members of the party were caught and carried. Related: Snowmobiler Killed by Avalanche in Utah’s Monte Cristo Snowmobile Area The large skier-triggered avalanche occurred on a northeast-facing slope at 9,400′. It likely failed on the new/old interface buried […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 4, 2025 0 Comments
Snowmobiler Killed by Avalanche in Utah’s Monte Cristo Snowmobile Area A 37-year-old snowmobiler from Evanston, Wyoming, was killed in an avalanche on Monday afternoon in Utah’s Monte Cristo Snowmobile Area. The avalanche, near the Rich County and Cache County line, sparked a massive multi-agency rescue operation that lasted several hours. Related: Head On A Swivel – Snowmobile Avalanche Awareness The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed pending family notification, was snowmobiling […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 4, 2025 0 Comments
British Skier Killed by Massive Avalanche Over 3,000 Feet Long in Chamonix, France A 55-year-old British man was killed after a massive avalanche swept him away in the French Alps on Tuesday, January 28. According to local authorities, the slide occurred in an off-piste area of the Grands Montets ski resort in the Chamonix Valley, near Mont Blanc. The avalanche, described as “very large,” measured over 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) long and 1,300 […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 29, 2025 0 Comments
Inbounds Avalanche Ushers Upper Mountain Closure at Alyeska Resort, AK An inbounds avalanche above Glacier Bowl at Alyeska Resort late Monday prompted the temporary closure of upper mountain terrain, including the Tram and Glacier Bowl Express, resort officials said Tuesday. No injuries or missing persons were reported. Related: British Columbia Backcountry Report: Skiing Powder On A Gorgeous BC Nose, Triggering a Micro-Avalanche, Surfing A Wind-Lip , & Jumping in Donger-Land Alyeska’s […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 27, 2025 0 Comments
Colorade Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) Reminds Public That 40% of Colorado Avalanche Fatalities Happen at Moderate Danger Backcountry travelers urged to stay safe over MLK holiday weekend. As avalanche danger across much of Colorado drops to MODERATE (2 of 5) for the first time in weeks, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) urges backcountry travelers to use caution this holiday weekend. Historically, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend has been a high-risk period, with fatal avalanche […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 18, 2025 0 Comments
Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center Full Report From Radio Tower Peak, WY, Avalanche Fatality On Saturday, January 4, an avalanche caught, buried two, and killed one backcountry skier on Radio Tower Peak, Wyoming. A group of four skiers were traversing across a gully when the slope broke with a 400 foot wide crown. One skier was quickly located and just beneath the surface of the snow, while the other buried skier was buried 13 […] Avalanche Luke Guilford | January 18, 2025 1 Comment
CAIC Full Report From Red Mountain Pass, CO, Avalanche Fatality: Victim Discovered by Wife After He Failed to Return Home On Tuesday, January 7, an avalanche caught, buried, and killed a backcountry skier on Red Mountain Number 3, east of Red Mountain Pass, Colorado. The area is known locally as Bollywood and is about six miles east of Telluride. The skier was identified as Donald “Don” Moden Jr. Related: Backcountry Skier Killed by Avalanche Near Telluride, CO The Colorado Avalanche […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 15, 2025 0 Comments
[PHOTOS] Airbag Saves Skier After 1,600-Foot Avalanche Ride Over Cliffs and Through Trees Near Kicking Horse Resort, BC A skier suffered multiple major injuries after triggering a large avalanche just outside the boundary of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, British Columbia, on Saturday, January 11. The incident occurred around 12:40 p.m. when a group ventured into a notoriously complex area known as Terminator 2.5. Related: SnowBrains Podcast #42 | Utah Avalanche Center – Should We Use Avalanche […] Avalanche SnowBrains | January 14, 2025 0 Comments
3 Killed as Avalanche Buries 5 Skiers in Lepontine Alps, Italy Three skiers tragically lost their lives in an avalanche on the eastern ridge of Punta Valgrande, a summit rising to 2,856 meters (9,370 feet) in the Northern Lepontine Alps. The incident occurred shortly after noon on Sunday, January 12, on the Italian-Swiss border in the municipal territory of Trasquera. The victims were identified as Enzo Bonini, 65, owner of a […] Avalanche Julia Schneemann | January 13, 2025 0 Comments
Backcountry Skier Killed by Avalanche Near Telluride, CO On Tuesday, January 7, an avalanche caught, buried, and killed a backcountry skier on Red Mountain Number 3, east of Red Mountain Pass, Colorado. The area is known locally as Bollywood and is about six miles east of Telluride. Related: SnowBrains Podcast Ep. 73 | Dr. Ethan Greene – Director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center The avalanche occurred on […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 7, 2025 3 Comments
Accident Report Reveals how Snowboarder Got Buried 20 Feet Deep in New Year’s Eve Utah Avalanche A 54-year-old man died in an avalanche on Tuesday, December 31, the second avalanche-related fatality in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains in three days after another snowboarder was found dead in Millcreek Canyon near Salt Lake City. The incident occurred in the Davenport Hill area north of the ridge separating Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon, east of Salt Lake City. The man, […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 6, 2025 1 Comment