Thanks to the Olympics, the entire world is focused on the Italian Alps this week. But outside of organized sport, it has been a tragic few days in those same mountains, where a record number of deaths have occurred.
Thirteen backcountry skiers, climbers, and hikers have lost their lives in the last week. Avalanches, triggered by an exceptionally unstable snowpack, caused 10 of those fatalities, according to APnews.
The incidents happened on unmanaged slopes, well away from the maintained ski resorts, including those in Lombardy and Cortina d’Ampezzo, where the Winter Olympics are taking place.
Last weekend alone, several major avalanches struck. Two skiers died near the Marmolada Glacier, three more in Trentino, and one in South Tyrol. Elsewhere, hikers died in separate incidents on Monte Grappa in Veneto and in the Apennines. An ice climber also perished in the Valle d’Aosta.
Avalanche site in Solda, South Tyrol. Photo: Bergrettung Sulden via SnowBrains
Weak underlayer
Italy’s Alpine Rescue service has emphasized the dangers of the current conditions. Fresh snow from recent storms has created wind-loaded layers atop weak underlying snow. Here, the passage of even a single skier or natural overloading from snow weight may be enough to trigger a major slide.
Outdoor people have rushed out during brief breaks in the weather, increasing exposure to risk. Managed ski areas remain safe, thanks to constant monitoring, and no deaths have been reported there, although unrelated incidents, like the helicopter rescue of U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn after her crash in Cortina, have made headlines.
Italy’s Alpine rescue service urges maximum caution for anyone heading into snowy terrain.
Rescuers at an avalanche site in the Italian Alps, recovering victims who are buried below meters of snow. Photo: Vigili del Fuoco
French Alps also dangerous
Just across the border in the French Alps, avalanches have killed at least four skiers in the last few days. Two died on Monday in separate avalanches. One was caught in a very large slide while off-piste near Montgenevre in the Hautes-Alpes, near the Italian border. Another man died in the Belledonne Massif in Isere, near Grenoble, according to the Independent.
Those followed the deaths of two off-piste ski tourers on Saturday near Saint-Veran in the Queyras area. French authorities note that the companions of the deceased often escaped unharmed, but the victims chose to ski outside secured areas.
This latest week brings Europe’s avalanche death toll this winter to at least 60. Rescuers across the Alps stress the same message: always check the latest bulletins, carry proper gear, and avoid high-risk areas.
