 Poster: A snowHead
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A blog post has just been released outlining the current situation in Tirol (particularly Lech/St Anton), and some analysis of the incidents this week in Verwall and the fatalities in Stubai: https://avalanche.report/blog/at-07-en/13525
That one was right next to the lift lines. I know exactly where that avalanche is 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It's kind of interesting to see Europe is struggling so much with the current conditions. My off-piste/backcountry skiing has predominantly been in places where PWL is the norm. I think a lot of Europeans are getting caught out by not adjusting to the different conditions, but as usual it's a lot of completely unavoidable deaths/accidents/close calls due to poor decision making. The fact that you have such good forecasting makes it inexcusable. Simply put nobody should be skiing >30degrees on 4/5 days - it's not rocket science.
Regarding airbags. There is a suggestion that they actually promote more risk taking behaviour. I.e. it's a bit risky but I've got the airbag so I'll be ok".
Regarding experienced guides and mountaineers dying in avalanches. Yes it happens. For guides it can be pressure to keep clients happy, but that doesn't excuse it. My personal opinion is that a pro skier/mountaineer who knows the risk and perhaps has a higher risk tolerance in an attempt to push boundaries and achieve big goals is different to some "normal" person with no knowledge throwing their lives away skiing something done a million times
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Steilhang wrote: |
| ...the group was being 'guided' by an instructor. Surely he should never have taken them into that terrain if the level was 4/5? I wouldn't even consider going off piste under those conditions, and certainly not into a steep couloir with a big terrain trap at the bottom of it! |
Add to that that there was a 3-times in 25 years danger warning, and the adjacent pistes were closed... I think that may be a decision which is quite hard for a professional to justify.
| bouquetin wrote: |
| ... I suspect the last thing the resort tourist offices want to do is start giving everyone a greater understanding of how dangerous avalanches can be, it would ruin the Disneyland vibe. ...People play roulette even though it is obvious the house will always win in the long run. |
I'm not sure about that. In BC there's a great deal of fuss about the danger of slides, but it's more "Disneyland" than uncontrolled European lift accessed back country. I really don't think it's the fault of the resort - these folk are outside the resort boundary after all - it's not the fault of poor signage or lack of good maps or lack of education. In this specific case a professional went first - someone who definitely knows everything required to minimize risk in the backland.
By analogy, I think it's more like... the risk from tobacco use. We all know exactly what it does, it's just that some folk decide to take that risk anyway.
| boarder2020 wrote: |
| It's kind of interesting to see Europe is struggling so much with the current conditions. ... |
Indeed, although I don't know much about typical Euro snowpack conditions or about the snowpack causing these issues. Perhaps someone could educate us? If this was BC and you have a PWL down there, it's not going away anytime soon. We have had to deal with some PWLs for entire seasons (eg the one when Craig died, see Blehm's book). If you're going in March, it may well still be unsafe because it's a Persistent Weak Layer.
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| 8611 wrote: |
| @bouquetin, I think looking at the slope that they couldn't have come from easier terrain, if caught at the bottom the skiers were going lookers right to left, there doesn't seem to have been anything else to lookers right that was easier (maybe there's something not visible around the mountain) |
It’s all just speculation, someone local may know having heard on the grape vine what actually happened. Someone with better knowledge than me may be able to speculate more accurately than me.
And maybe they did ski a tracked out face, only for the person after them to trigger something.
But looking on Strava heat maps you can see a load of tracks come down nearer to the lift (far lookers right in your pic) and then traverse across under that face. So people do do it. If the lift was closed you’d need to do that to get out via the bottom of Santons. It is definitely less steep nearer the lift. And in the video it does look like they were traversing. So it’s possible, just one of a few possibilities I guess.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 17-02-26 14:24; edited 2 times in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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PWL?
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@stevew, persistent weak layer
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There are 2 root causes for all these avoidable Avalanche deaths.
1. Instagram
2. Tiktok
Nit even a decade ago, not a single person would go offpiste in avalanche risk 4 or even 5.
Especially in very exposed and remote valleys like Val Veny where multiple casualties earlier this week.
Not just stupid and reckless. Outright asociale, because they endanger the lives of mountain security professionals.
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| Onnem wrote: |
| Nit even a decade ago, not a single person would go offpiste in avalanche risk 4 or even 5. |
I'm not completely calling bulls**t, but I find that very hard to believe. There are so many people who ski.with no avi kit at all, many of them a lot older than the TikTok generation, are you telling me that 10 years ago not one of them would be off piste on a powder day? I suspect many weren't even aware that there was an avi risk scale at all.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Onnem,
"Nit even a decade ago, not a single person would go offpiste in avalanche risk 4 or even 5."
5/5 agreed, as +/- no lifts, trails or rando routes would be open.
4/5, not agreed at all. Have done it myself, with very, very cautious and careful route choices.
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@phil_w, round the haute savoie, there's been a really unusual snowfall, since october of all things. So aiui, a complex set of persistent weak layers, more or less everywhere.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Alastair Pink wrote: |
| Steilhang wrote: |
@phil_w, the group was being 'guided' by an instructor. Surely he should never have taken them into that terrain if the level was 4/5?
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Although the Guardian report refers to the person. leading the two British skiers as an "instructor" other sources have said he was actually a mountain guide. I guess his status will be clarified in the ongoing judicial investigation. |
I guess so, especially if the authorities decide to take them to court. My antennae have been tweaked by the lack of analysis of this incident by various bloggers based in the EK. I think between them snowHeads have covered most of the lessons.
Hopefully the authorities will publish more details in the interest of education and improvement. As you know, I come from a profession of open and honest reporting (often brutal) where individual and company reputations are set aside in the interests of safety (I would offer a caveat in the case of Boeing over the last 15 years).
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Onnem wrote: |
There are 2 root causes for all these avoidable Avalanche deaths.
1. Instagram
2. Tiktok
Nit even a decade ago, not a single person would go offpiste in avalanche risk 4 or even 5. |
The window between the snow pack stabilising and turning to crust or crud is narrower or non/existent compared to a decade or more ago, tempting too many off piste skiers out in high avalanche risk conditions. The guides’ secret north face powder stashes are becoming ever more elusive.
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| Scarlet wrote: |
| @stevew, persistent weak layer |
Thanks!
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You know it makes sense.
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@On the rocks, “ The window between the snow pack stabilising and turning to crust or crud is narrower or non/existent compared to a decade or more ago”
How so?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Higher temperatures
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Avalanche in La Grave this morning two dead
It was this morning in the Rock Garden Cote Fine
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Tue 17-02-26 15:37; edited 1 time in total
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Onnem wrote: |
There are 2 root causes for all these avoidable Avalanche deaths.
1. Instagram
2. Tiktok
Nit even a decade ago, not a single person would go offpiste in avalanche risk 4 or even 5.
Especially in very exposed and remote valleys like Val Veny where multiple casualties earlier this week.
Not just stupid and reckless. Outright asociale, because they endanger the lives of mountain security professionals. |
You missed out fat skis and the growth /accessibility of ski touring.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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[quote="chocksaway"]
| Alastair Pink wrote: |
| Steilhang wrote: |
@phil_w, the group was being 'guided' by an instructor. Surely he should never have taken them into that terrain if the level was 4/5?
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My antennae have been tweaked by the lack of analysis of this incident by various bloggers based in the EK. I think between them snowHeads have covered most of the lessons.
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I have also been struck by the lack of information. What is the implication of your antennae being tweaked? It seems a cryptic comment.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 17-02-26 16:11; edited 1 time in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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This notable bit of speculation says it all, really. Why do you feel entitled to "information", @Noob921? Isn't it more satisfying just to create your own "PR storm" with none?
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@Noob921, Not sure where you get that impression from. There is naturally a Police investigation underway, you would not expect them to be giving daily updates. I am sure the various professionals in the area will be shocked and upset (the guide was almost certainly well known and popular), hardly likely to be speculating and gossiping. As noted above one of the two British guys who died was also a client of a regular contributor here and locally based guide. The publicly available information suggests the guided group were stationary at the bottom of a slope which was then triggered by a solo skier above. If so this is a situation most who venture into the high mountains whether on skis or not will have found themselves in regularly, almost always you quickly move on without incident.
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| munich_irish wrote: |
| @Noob921, Not sure where you get that impression from. There is naturally a Police investigation underway, you would not expect them to be giving daily updates. I am sure the various professionals in the area will be shocked and upset (the guide was almost certainly well known and popular), hardly likely to be speculating and gossiping. As noted above one of the two British guys who died was also a client of a regular contributor here and locally based guide. The publicly available information suggests the guided group were stationary at the bottom of a slope which was then triggered by a solo skier above. If so this is a situation most who venture into the high mountains whether on skis or not will have found themselves in regularly, almost always you quickly move on without incident. |
I was simply trying to work out why antennae have been tweaked by the lack of analysis of this incident by various bloggers based in the EK" given that, based on reading chocksaway's posts, they are also based locally. It was a cryptic statement and I wanted to understand what they meant.
| Origen wrote: |
| Why do you feel entitled to "information" |
I simply wanted to know what chocksaway meant by their cryptic post. I have edited my post to remove speculation.
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Level 4 in livigno now, also Ortler alps and some other central italian alps.
I saw a video of an avalanche today in courmayeur that came down off mont blanc and onto the piste (i think it is the chairlift that links up with the track from col de vesses/ val veny)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@On the rocks, not disputing general and established climatewarming trends but not convinced there’s a material difference in powder availability post snowfall … certainly not noticed it.
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| Weathercam wrote: |
Avalanche in La Grave this morning two dead
It was this morning in the Rock Garden Cote Fine |
How sad. I saw on the Telerifique Facebook page there had been an incident. Know that route, and heading out to LG on Saturday. Not so excited now. RIP to those impacted and hope any others injured have a quick recovery
The lift was closed today right? So they skinned up presumably?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Haggis_Trap wrote: |
i) Lots of skiers nibble at the 30 degree terrain on cat-4 day. They get away with it. Either through luck/ conservative terrain choice
ii) based on ski tracks / lack of avalanche activity someone is tempted onto steeper 40 degree terrain. Avalanche triggers and propagates. Skier is buried. |
It just isn’t, in my opinion, 30-degree terrain if, above it, it has terrain in excess of 30 degrees. It’s an environment that’s orders of magnitude more dangerous.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| bouquetin wrote: |
But looking on Strava heat maps you can see a load of tracks come down nearer to the lift (far lookers right in your pic) and then traverse across under that face. So people do do it. If the lift was closed you’d need to do that to get out via the bottom of Santons. It is definitely less steep nearer the lift. And in the video it does look like they were traversing. So it’s possible, just one of a few possibilities I guess. |
Interesting. This would be tragic in the extreme and would at least exonerate the guide to a large extent. It also matches the initial reporting of the incident which was of getting hit from above.
The person in the video says it caught three of them. Kind of sounds like he knew they were in the couloir rather than just traversing across but all will be revealed I suppose.
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It says this was Gazex induced. Some thoughts and questions:
a) How many bangs cana gazex make before it has to be reloaded?
b) If it was a gazex it presumably had been banged a few times already this season
c) Just shows you have bad it is if it has reached the lift in a known location after a few previous bangs.
*Also noting the online video of the helicopter triggered PIDA above the avalanche barriers that pretty much reached the lift below anyway. Not sure how effective the metal barriers actually are?
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You know it makes sense.
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| 8611 wrote: |
| bouquetin wrote: |
But looking on Strava heat maps you can see a load of tracks come down nearer to the lift (far lookers right in your pic) and then traverse across under that face. So people do do it. If the lift was closed you’d need to do that to get out via the bottom of Santons. It is definitely less steep nearer the lift. And in the video it does look like they were traversing. So it’s possible, just one of a few possibilities I guess. |
Interesting. This would be tragic in the extreme and would at least exonerate the guide to a large extent. It also matches the initial reporting of the incident which was of getting hit from above.
The person in the video says it caught three of them. Kind of sounds like he knew they were in the couloir rather than just traversing across but all will be revealed I suppose. |
No it doesn't. Passing under terrain known to avalanche frequently (enough that the guidebook for the area explicitly states that you will most likely have to ski over avalanche debris to exit the area).
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Doesn't necessarily take an avalanche to be fatal!
| Quote: |
Freerider (18 ) dies after fall in powder snow
Tyrol
February 17, 2026, 5:58 PM
A tragic freeride accident occurred Tuesday morning in Tyrol: An 18-year-old Austrian fell in an off-piste area, became stuck headfirst in deep snow, and was unable to free himself. Despite a rapid rescue operation and a helicopter airlift, it was too late to save the young winter sports enthusiast.
Around 11:45 a.m., the 18-year-old was skiing off-piste with two friends in the "Maienplatt" off-piste area of the St. Anton am Arlberg ski resort, enjoying the fresh powder snow. According to initial reports, all three were equipped with full avalanche safety equipment, including avalanche transceivers.
The 18-year-old was the last to ski down the mountain. According to initial findings, he likely fell headfirst in a gully. He became stuck in the deep, loose snow – a situation from which the young athlete could not free himself.
His friend, who was riding ahead, hadn't initially noticed the fall. Only after several hundred meters did he stop to wait for the person behind him. But the 18-year-old didn't appear. He also couldn't be reached by phone. The friend immediately grabbed his avalanche transceiver to search for a possible buried victim.
A ski guide who happened to be passing by noticed the dramatic situation. Together, they shouted loudly to attract the attention of another ski guide, a 27-year-old Austrian, who was located a little further up the slope. He was then able to locate the injured skier.
He dug out the 18-year-old with his bare hands
. He immediately began digging the young man, who was stuck in the snow, with his bare hands. Meanwhile, his companion called emergency services, and another ski guide rushed to the scene. Together, they finally managed to free the 18-year-old.
Despite extremely adverse conditions, the crew of the emergency helicopter "Gallus 3" carried out a risky rescue using a rope. The seriously injured winter sports enthusiast was then taken by ambulance to the hospital in Zams. There, doctors fought to save his life – but all help came too late. The 18-year-old died shortly afterwards in the hospital.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Chris_n, oh dear 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Chris_n, terrible. Poor boy.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Chris_n, christ 18 . I face planted once in deep snow at high speed and could only just get myself out, mate had torn down the mountain was real eye opener as felt if I'd been going a bit faster could have been stuck. Lifts had just closed and we were last skiers on the mountain, off the side of the piste. Simple things can kill you up there.
@afterski, yes but orders of magnitude less dangerous than skiing down it, though I agree on a day like that you don't want to be below any slope that hasn't been controlled
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@8611, I think my point is that it wouldn't particularly exonerate the guide in a duty of care type investigation.
Not that its isn't a different risk factor to skiing down it.
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What a terrible story. Wasn't there a young woman who died in similar circumstances in Chamonix a few weeks ago?
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No and the french are tough on that stuff
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@Origen, there was a story on the media a few weeks ago about that scenario, but the Chamonix accident in question was several years ago
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Somehow I feel sadder to hear about that than someone being caught in a slide, but both are equally tragic. I've often wondered about that happening, especially when I've fallen on my back bottom and struggled to either get up, remove skis or roll over.
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@SnoodyMcFlude, it's exactly that, the fear of not being able to get up when I've fallen, that made me give up skiing off piste.
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FAQ
