Swiss Mountain Guide Convicted of Negligent Homicide Following 2023 Avalanche That Killed Colorado and British Teens

A Swiss mountain guide has been convicted of multiple counts of negligent homicide following an avalanche that killed two 18-year-old students during a ski tour near Meiringen, Switzerland, in March 2023. The Oberland Regional Court in Thun sentenced the guide to a conditional fine of 150 daily rates of CHF 90 ($110), totaling CHF 13,500 ($17,400), with a two-year probationary […] >> читать далее

Cal/OSHA Finds Mammoth Mountain, CA, ‘Willfully’ Violated Safety Rules After Ski Patroller’s December 2025 Death

Mammoth Mountain, California, is facing $126,000 in Cal/OSHA fines following an investigation into the December 2025 avalanche that killed ski patroller Cole Murphy. The investigation found three workplace safety violations, including one classified as a “willful” violation, as reported by SFGATE. Mammoth says it has corrected the violations and is appealing the citations. Murphy, a 30-year-old lifelong skier from Tacoma, […] >> читать далее

More Details Emerge from Coroner and Independent Reports on Deadly Tahoe Avalanche That Killed 9

Two new reports have emerged this moth following the Castle Peak avalanche in Lake Tahoe, California, on February 17, 2026. One report is from the Nevada County Coroner’s Office while the second is an independent investigation into the avalanche commissioned by the guiding company. All nine people killed in February’s Castle Peak avalanche near Lake Tahoe died from asphyxia after […] >> читать далее

King Charles Reflects on 1988 Avalanche That Killed His Close Friend in Klosters, Switzerland

King Charles III has spoken publicly about surviving a deadly avalanche in Switzerland that killed one of his closest friends, describing the incident as “a close thing” more than 38 years after it occurred. Charles made the comments on August 1, 2026, while hosting members of Scotland’s Assynt Mountain Rescue Team at the Castle of Mey. The meeting marked the […] >> читать далее

Broad Peak Avalanche Update: 8 Bodies Recovered And Identified

Eight climbers are now confirmed dead following last week’s devastating avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram, including legendary mountaineer Nims Dai Purja, according to updates from the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP). Rescue teams have recovered and identified eight of the 10 climbers caught in the avalanche on Thursday, July 30. Two climbers remain unaccounted for, although all 10 […] >> читать далее

Update Broad Peak Avalanche: 6 Climbers Confirmed Dead as Recovery Mission Continues

Six climbers have now been confirmed dead following Thursday’s catastrophic avalanche on Broad Peak (8,047 meters) in Pakistan’s Karakoram Range, while recovery teams prepare to return to the mountain to retrieve the remaining victims. The confirmations of the confirmed deaths has come in several stages. On Friday evening, July 31, the Commissioner of Baltistan’s office issued a press release confirming […] >> читать далее

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