Nims Dai Purja Confirmed Dead Following Broad Peak Avalanche in Pakistan

Nirmal “Nims Dai” Purja, one of the most accomplished high-altitude mountaineers in history, has been confirmed dead following Thursday’s devastating avalanche on Broad Peak (8,047 meters) in Pakistan’s Karakoram Range. The announcement was made on Saturday, August 1, by his expedition company, Elite Exped, bringing a heartbreaking end to two days of uncertainty and hope. In a statement shared on […] >> читать далее

Australia’s Worst Alpine Disaster Remembered: The Thredbo Landslide

Shortly before midnight on July 30, 1997, a landslide in the ski resort of Thredbo caused Australia’s worst alpine disaster. After torrential rain and snow in the days leading up, the soil was eroded, causing a landslide that broke the Carinya Lodge in two. Parts of the debris slid further down into the Bimbadeen Lodge and its staff quarters. In […] >> читать далее

New Andes Avalanche Center Debuts in Chile and Argentina, Bringing Crucial Forecasting to South America

One man’s vision to make the backcountry ski scene in the Andes a safer, more information-connected place is finally coming to fruition. When founder of APEX Backcountry Guides (Andes Puro Exploraciones) Forrest Schmidt first arrived in the Araucanía region of Chile in 2012, he was drawn in by the vast ski terrain consisting of towering, snow-capped volcanos, ancient Araucaría forests, […] >> читать далее

Flathead Region, MT, Marks 5 Years Without Avalanche Deaths Despite Volatile Winter

Despite unstable snow conditions and a number of close calls, the 2025-26 winter marked the fifth consecutive year with zero avalanche fatalities in the Flathead region of northern Montana. The Flathead area, which covers 1.2 million acres of Northern Rocky mountain ranges, experienced winter weather this past season that would typically lead to hazardous backcountry conditions. Heavy early-season precipitation, which boosted […] >> читать далее

Castle Peak Avalanche Responders Recognized

The 21 agencies that responded to the Castle Peak Avalanche in California recently received certificates of recognition for their efforts on July 14. Presented by Nevada County Supervisors, certificates were provided to hundreds of personnel, including ski teams, snowmobile and SnoCat operators, aerial operations teams, and avalanche mitigation teams, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Related: Official Report […] >> читать далее

FAA Says Resorts Can Now Use Specialized Drones For Avalanche Control

Avalanche control operations just got a little more tech-y.  The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently granted regulatory approval for Drone Amplified’s MONTIS system, specifically designed for avalanche control operations. The FAA’s decision gives ski resorts around the country a clear framework to implement and operate the MONTIS system, and it is a clear step forward for mountain safety. Related: […] >> читать далее

How a German Tech Firm Finally Brought GPS-Style Navigation to the Avalanche Beacon

For over 50 years, the fundamental science of avalanche rescue has remained stubborn and unchanged: transceiver manufacturers expected skiers to hunt along invisible, curved magnetic flux lines. This process frequently required frantic zigzagging, navigating erratic “arrow jumps,” and executing precise bracket searches while a companion’s life hung in the balance. Related: Remote-Trigger Avalanches: What They Are and Why They are […] >> читать далее

Tragedy in the Karakoram: Legendary French Steep Skier Guillaume Pierrel Dies in Avalanche on K6

The global mountaineering and steep skiing communities are mourning the loss of Guillaume “Gee” Pierrel, who died following a devastating avalanche on K6 (7,282 m) in Pakistan’s Karakoram Range Wednesday morning, June 24. According to preliminary reports from local Hushe Valley authorities, the 40-year-old French mountain guide and extreme skier was caught by a sudden slide of snow and rock during […] >> читать далее

Avalanche Gear Summer Storage: What Most Backcountry Skiers Get Wrong

The skis are racked. The sleds are parked. For backcountry travelers wrapping up another season, avalanche gear summer storage deserves attention before summer takes hold: proper storage of avalanche safety equipment. A few minutes of off-season care can mean the difference between gear that performs when it counts and gear that fails; or voids a warranty. Why Avalanche Gear Summer […] >> читать далее

Utah Avalanche Center Legend Craig Gordon Retires After 27 Years

The Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) is losing its most recognizable and energetic public figure. Craig Gordon, known throughout the ski community for his distinctive top knot, surfer-infused vocabulary, and boundless enthusiasm, retired from full-time forecasting this spring. His departure concludes a 27-year tenure that fundamentally modernized winter safety education. Related: Utah Avalanche Center Releases Final Report on Brighton Avalanche That […] >> читать далее

Teton County, WY, to Hold Panel on Avalanches and Trauma

Wyoming’s Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) will be holding a panel for those affected by death and trauma in the mountains. After a difficult winter that saw many tragic avalanche deaths, the panel aims to build community and to talk through backcountry fatalities. The panel encourages sharing personal perspectives, suggesting resources, and providing support during backcountry tragedies. It will […] >> читать далее

Those Window-Rattling Booms on Powder Days? The Howitzers Behind Them Are Nearly Gone

For almost as long as humans have been riding chairlifts in the big mountains of Western North America, avalanche artillery mitigation has been at the center of a steadily evolving program to understand, predict, and control snowpack hazards. Many a skier has woken up to the thunderous, window-rattling booms of artillery fire from a nearby highway or ski area and […] >> читать далее

American Woman Mountaineer Killed in Avalanche During Descent of Mount Makalu in Himalaya Mountains

An American climber has died following a high-altitude avalanche on Makalu, the world’s fifth-highest peak. Shelley Johannesen, 59, was killed on Sunday morning when a massive slide struck her team at approximately 7,000 meters as they were descending from the summit. According to reports from Explorer’s Web and the Tourism Times, the incident occurred just below Camp 3 on the […] >> читать далее

Young Skier Killed by Avalanche on Mont Blanc, Chamonix, France

A young French skier died on Saturday, May 9, after an avalanche swept through the north face of the Aiguille du Plan in the Mont Blanc Massif, according to the High Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon (PGHM) of Chamonix, France. The accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on May 9 as three French skiers, aged between 20 and 25, were descending the steep […] >> читать далее

Alaska Heli-Ski Guide and Avalanche Educator Dies Following Chugach Mountains Avalanche

The Alaska backcountry community is mourning the loss of a respected guide and educator after a fatal avalanche accident in the Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Dylan Lenzie, a lead guide with Crown Mountain Guides, died Saturday, May 2, from injuries sustained in an avalanche three days earlier while working in the West Bench area of Gannett Glacier, south of Knik Glacier. […] >> читать далее