Rescue teams across the Alps say changing weather patterns and unprepared skiers are contributing to a sharp rise in avalanche deaths this winter.
According to the European Avalanche Warning Services, more than 100 people have died in avalanches this season, the highest number recorded in eight years.
Unstable snow conditions
Mountain patrol teams in the French Alps say this year’s snowpack has been particularly unstable.
Veteran mountain patroller Frédéric Bonnevie, who has worked in the mountains for more than three decades, explained that shorter winters and changing snowfall patterns linked to climate change are affecting conditions.
Much of the best snow now falls at higher altitudes, while layers of soft snow sitting above dense snow create dangerous avalanche conditions.
Skiers taking greater risks
Experts say many accidents occur outside marked ski pistes, where snow conditions cannot be controlled.
Association Nationale pour l’Étude de la Neige et des Avalanches (ANENA) director Stéphane Bornet said many victims are experienced skiers but lack proper mountain safety preparation.
Some skiers were not carrying essential avalanche rescue equipment such as transceivers, shovels, and probes, which are crucial for locating people buried under snow.
Survival chances depend on equipment
Rescue crews say the first 16 minutes after an avalanche are critical.
If a skier is carrying a locator device, survival chances can reach about 70%. Without one, survival rates drop dramatically to around 20%, as rescue operations take longer.
Pierre Boulonnais, a mountain patroller in Val Thorens, warned that even 50 cm of compact snow can place more than a quarter-ton of weight on a buried person, making survival extremely difficult.
Climate and behavior both factors
Recent avalanches have disrupted several Alpine regions. In Switzerland, an avalanche recently derailed a train, while deadly incidents have also occurred in Austria.
Experts say both climate change and skier behavior are contributing to the rising number of accidents.
Rescue teams warn that while the Alps remain a spectacular destination for winter sports, visitors must respect the risks of the mountains and prepare properly before venturing off-piste.
