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

Why European Avalanche Deaths More Than Doubled Last Season

The European ski season ended with 146 deaths across the Alps, Apennines, Pyrenees, and the Scandinavian Mountains. Shockingly that is more than double the number from last year, when 70 died and 40% more than the 20-year average of 104.35 deaths. The main issue that led to the high avalanche deaths this season stemmed from a persistent weak base layer […] >> читать далее

With 146 Deaths, Europe’s Avalanche Season Exposes a Persistent Weak Base Layer Problem

The European ski season ended with 146 deaths across the Alps, Apennines, Pyrenees, and the Scandinavian Mountains. Shockingly that is more than double the number from last year, when 70 died and 40% more than the 20-year average of 104.35 deaths. The main issue that led to the high avalanche deaths this season stemmed from a persistent weak base layer […] >> читать далее

The Science Behind Avalanches

Avalanches are among the most dangerous natural hazards and the science behind their formation and prevention is fascinating. These mass movements of snow often disrupt the operations of ski areas and public roads, leading to significant investments in prevention. Triggered by animals, humans, heavy snowfall, earthquakes, and other natural variables, avalanches have the greatest risk of sliding on slopes greater […] >> читать далее

Tragic Avalanche in Hemsedal, Norway, Claims 2 Lives on Easter Monday

A deadly avalanche in Norway’s Hemsedal ski area claimed the lives of two backcountry skiers on Easter Monday.  Related: Ski on Sugar Cane This Summer at This Swedish Resort At 11:10 a.m. on Monday, April 6, an avalanche swept through a backcountry zone near the ski area, involving a group of seven skiers. According to the press release by the […] >> читать далее

Greenland Capital Hit by Fatal Nuuk Avalanche Less Than 2 Weeks After Near-Miss

A 17-year-old boy died Saturday after an avalanche struck a group of snowmobilers near Nuuk, Greenland, less than two weeks after a separate avalanche in the same area left two backcountry skiers buried up to 16 feet deep, local police are reporting. Related: Head On A Swivel – Snowmobile Avalanche Awareness What Happened in the Nuuk Avalanche Nuuk Police launched […] >> читать далее

2 American Backcountry Skiers Caught in Avalanche in Stubai Alps, Austria, Leaving 1 Seriously Injured

Two American backcountry skiers were caught in an avalanche on Friday, April 3, in the northern Stubai Alps near Neustift im Stubaital, Austria, leaving one seriously injured. According to a press release from Tyrol Police, the pair had set out from the Franz Senn Hut with the objective of summiting the Hintere Wilde Turm, a prominent peak in the Stubai […] >> читать далее