Category: accidents

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Two ski patrollers died in Morillon setting avalanche control charges.

Avalanches are a risky business if you venture off-piste. Photo credit Andrew Coelho - Unsplash

Two ski patrollers died on Sunday in the ski resort in Morillon in the Haute Savoie region of France while setting avalanche control charges before the resort opened to the public. These avalanche-control charges accidentally went off, killing them.  Police are investigating the cause of this, which is rare. Ski patrollers set up controlled explosions before the slopes open to mitigate the risk of larger avalanches. You can read my previous interview to Coco Torres, former Head of Operations at Valle de Las Leñas in Argentina, about how patrollers control avalanches in this high-avalanche prone valley.

The accident took place at an altitude of 1,800 metres (6,000 feet). Forecasters at Meteo France warned of high avalanche risks in the Savoie and Hatue-Savoie regions following overnight snowfalls. The risk of avalanches was at 4 out of 5.

Two ski patrollers died in Morillon setting avalanche control charges.
Two ski patrollers died in Morillon setting avalanche control charges.

These fatalities bring the number of weather-related deaths in Europe this month to at least 26, with heavy snow blanketing the Balkans and part of the Alps.

Two Bulgarian snowboarders were killed by an avalanche in the Pirin Mountains on Friday. The Bulgarian Red Cross said that the pair ignored the warnings and weather alerts and triggered the avalanche.

A 48-year old driver of a snow plough died in Germany this past Friday after his vehicle plunged into an icy river.

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Three German Skiers got killed in an Avalanche near the Austrian resort of Lech, fourth is missing

Lech Zürs am Arlberg photo by Sepp Mallaun. Lech Zürs Tourismus GmbH. Three German Skiers got killed in an Avalanche near the Austrian resort of Lech, fourth is missing.

Three German Skiers got killed in an avalanche near the Austrian resort of Lech, the fourth skier is missing. The group was ski touring at the time.

The dead men were from the Upper Swabia area of southwestern Germany. They were found around 11 PM local time after one of their wives alerted that they were missing. They were aged 57, 36 and 32. The fourth missing person, also from southern Germany was 28.

Three German Skiers got killed in an Avalanche near the Austrian resort of Lech, fourth is missing. Photo: Reuters.
Three German Skiers got killed in an Avalanche near the Austrian resort of Lech, fourth is missing. Photo: Reuters.

The search for this fourth person has halted due to heavy avalanche risk.

Police in the Vorarlberg province has said they have located the people through mobile phone tracking near the Lanzeg Zug slope – one of the steepest in the world.

As per the Associated Press, weather-related deaths in parts of Europe this month account to at least 24.

Austria has been hit by large snowfalls this past week, and the avalanche warning levels have gone up while local roads have been cut. The warning level above 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) was on Saturday on a scale of 3 of 5. The slope has been closed due to avalanche danger.

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A British skier dies after falling 32 feet from a chairlift in the French resort of Méribel at the 3 Vallées.

The pretty resort of Méribel in Les Trois Vallées. A British skier dies after falling 32 feet from a chairlift in the French resort of Méribel at the 3 Vallées.

A British skier dies after falling 32 feet from a chairlift in the French resort of Méribel at the famous 3 Vallées

The reports say that the 65 years old man, who was not yet named by authorities, had a heart attack just before he fell. He was seating next to a female friend. She is being interviewed by the police.

Investigators want to find out if the victim might have squeezed down the metal safety bar of the chairlift that protects passengers.

The lift was a six-seater built by the company Pomagalski in 2017 that transports 2,400 per hour.

A British skier dies after falling 32 feet from a chairlift in the French resort of Méribel at the 3 Vallées.
A British skier dies after falling 32 feet from a chairlift in the French resort of Méribel at the 3 Vallées. Illustrative photo.

Emergency services were called at 12.20 to the Roc-de-Tougne lift and from the six first respondents, two doctors tried to resuscitate the man for more than half an hour but unfortunately the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man suffered a heart attack and died on the slopes in the resort of Méribel.

Police are investigating whether the 65-year-old man was in cardiac arrest before falling 32 feet from the chairlift.

Continue reading “A British skier dies after falling 32 feet from a chairlift in the French resort of Méribel at the 3 Vallées.”

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Whitefish Mountain Resort got 140 people evacuated from chairlift.

Whitefish - Basin Inversion. Photo: Whitefish Mountain Resort. Whitefish Mountain Resort got 140 people evacuated from chairlift.

140 people evacuated from chairlift at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Whitefish Mountain Resort Photo. The Ski Patrol Dog "Jett" found his toy - training for avalanche rescue by ski patrols. Whitefish Mountain Resort got 140 people evacuated from chairlift.
Whitefish Mountain Resort Photo. The Ski Patrol Dog “Jett” found his toy – training for avalanche rescue by ski patrols. Whitefish Mountain Resort got 140 people evacuated from chairlift.

On Saturday a Montana Ski Resort representative said that 140 people had to be evacuated from a chairlift due to a mechanical problem that made the operators to stop the lift.

It took 2 ½ hours to remove all people from Chair 5 in Whitefish Mountain Resort on Saturday. The officials decided to evacuate the passengers because it would take time to repair the chairlift. Some of the passengers were lowered from the lift with cables and harnesses. Temperatures were in the high teens and the winds were of about 10 mph (16 km/hour) at the moment.

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A Gondola Accident happened in Hochzillertal today.

Hochzillertal ski map. A Gondola Accident happened in Hochzillertal today.

A Gondola Accident happened in Hochzillertal today.

From Unofficial Networks and Euro News.

A frightening incident unfolded this morning in Kaltenbach, Austria. Several 10-passenger gondolas on the”Wimbachexpress” at Hochzillertal got hung up on a tower and collided into one another. According to reports, the gondola cars were empty at the time and no one was injured. It is believed that high winds from a strong storm ranging across the Alps played a roll in the accident.

You can see the video here:

More: Unofficial NetworksA

The-Ski-Guru TRAVEL can organise your bespoke ski trip to the Americas, Alps or Japan, including for those going from Britain to Europe, booking your Eurotunnel trip, and for all trips: lodging, lift tickets, rentals, ski school, and all you need for an excellent vacation. Go to https://www.the-ski-guru.com/travel and upload your information – this page will be updated soon with more travel ideas.

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A couple of lifts were sabotaged in Passo Rolle.

Ski map of Passo Rolle and San Martino di Castrozza. The Ferrari Chairlift has been reopened in record time at Passo Rolle, after being sabotaged.

A couple of lifts were sabotaged on Passo Rolle on the night of November 30th, between Friday and Saturday, on the eve of the opening of the season.

The first lift that the operators realised has been sabotaged during a test drive, was the Ferrari lift. The lift has to remain closed for opening day. One of the six trefoil, cables that make up the rope, has been cut. Checks were also taking place on the Paradiso lift, next to the Ferrari lift.

This has been a ‘considerable damage, changing the rope of that type costs hundreds of thousands of Euros’ said the President of the Engineering company Giacobbe Zortea, ‘but we will not die, we will guarantee the safety of the facilities for tourists and operators of the Passo (Rolle)’.

A couple of lifts were sabotaged in Passo Rolle.
A couple of lifts were sabotaged in Passo Rolle.

It is ‘fair’, he concluded, that these people pay for an ‘irresponsible gesture’.
Complaints were immediately raised to the Carabinieri of Primiero, which together with the colleagues of the Compagnia di Cavalese, have arrived at the site for an inspection. They were assessing the site soonafter, investigating the damage done.

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A gas explosion has taken place Friday at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof.

A gas explosion has taken place Friday at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof.

A gas explosion occurred early Friday afternoon in the kitchen of the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof in Zermatt (VS), which was still closed before the start of the season. Six people were injured. The Grand Hotel Zermatterhof is the iconic hotel in the middle of the town of Zermatt, one of the most renown iconic hotels there. You can read more of Zermatt in our recent guide here.

From Sivtelegram.media

#explosiongaz – 13:45 – Zermatt – gas explosion in the kitchen of a hotel – several-injured – fire-mastered – assistance on site – no danger for the population – Info will follow – Polcant VS

— Police in Valais (@PoliceValais) November 30, 2018

The Zermatterof is one of the most renown hotels in Zermatt - in the middle of town, in the Dorfstrasse, as shown in this picture. A gas explosion has taken place Friday at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof.
The Zermatterof is one of the most renown hotels in Zermatt – in the middle of town, in the Dorfstrasse, as shown in this picture. A gas explosion has taken place Friday at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof.

The severity of the injuries of the six people, including five kitchen employees, is not yet known, said Keystone-ATS Fernando Clemenz of the Matterhorn Group. The people affected have been delivered to hospitals in Sion, Visp and doctors of the station.

Forty firefighters, two helicopters and two ambulances were dispatched on the spot. The fire was quickly mastered. The population incurs no danger, said the police cantonale valaisanne.

Am Freitagnachmittag ist es in der Küche des Grand Hotels Zermatterhof im Zentrum von #Zermatt zu einer Explosion gekommen. Sechs Personen wurden dabei verletzt und mussten sich in ärztliche Behandlung begeben. https://t.co/oj8FOVLHrM

— 1815.ch (@1815_online) November 30, 2018

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A new Leitner-Poma empty gondola cabin from Copper Mountain Crashes to the Ground.

Copper Mountain photo. A new Leitner-Poma empty gondola cabin from Copper Mountain Crashes to the Ground.

An empty gondola fell off American Eagle new lift from manufacturer Leitner-Poma. No one was injured in a test-run incident, the lift will still open in Copper Mountain this Saturday.

A new Leitner Poma empty gondola cabin has crashed to the ground in Copper Mountain on Monday. Nobody was injured in this incident. The lift is scheduled to open Saturday, it was announced by the Summit County ski resort.

A new Leitner-Poma empty gondola cabin from Copper Mountain Crashes to the Ground.
A new Leitner-Poma empty gondola cabin from Copper Mountain Crashes to the Ground.

This incident happened at 11 AM, just after the gondola took off from the American Eagle base terminal. The lift was not open to the public as this happened during a testing procedure.

Leitner-Poma, the construction contractor, has reviewed the lift and concluded that it was not damaged. Copper Mountain is working closely with Leitner-Poma and the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board to ensure that the American Eagle lift will operate safely and reliably.

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Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.

Matterhorn by Chris Holgersson. Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.

Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.

On 11 September of 2018, a rescuer from Zermatt discovered bones of a human body and mountain gear at the foot of the Matterhorn. These are related to an accident in 2014.

Matterhorn Frisch Verschneit. Matterhorn in winter. Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.
Matterhorn Frisch Verschneit. Matterhorn in winter. Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.

On July 23rd, 2014, a 40-year-old Japanese mountaineer climbed the Matterhorn alone. He never returned and he was considered missing.

Time passed, and on September 11, 2018, a rescuer from Zermatt found the human bones and mountain gear at the foot of the wall on the eastern side of the Matterhorn – this was due to melting snow which allowed the bones and equipment to resurface.

Continue reading “Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.”

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Richard Branson got ‘seconds from death’ on charity Mont Blanc climb

Sir Richard Branson and his son Sam almost did not make it in a charity climb to the Mont Blanc. Picture PA. Nepal Herald.

Richard Branson got ‘seconds from death’ on charity Mont Blanc climb

“Three seconds earlier we would all certainly have been killed. I have never come so close to losing my son,” Sir Richard said.

From: Nepal Herald and Sky News.

The 68-year-old, along with Sam and his nephew Noah Devereux reached the top of the mountain on Saturday afternoon after completing the 33-day Virgin Strive Challenge – a 2,000km trek across Western Europe.

Sir Richard Branson climbs Mont Blanc in the Alps in the final stage of the Virgin Strive Challenge (Picture: PA) Nepal Herald.
Sir Richard Branson climbs Mont Blanc in the Alps in the final stage of the Virgin Strive Challenge (Picture: PA) Nepal Herald.

A core team of 13 hiked, climbed, cycled and even used sea kayaks to complete their journey from Sardinia to the top of Mont Blanc – raising money for the charity Big Change which helps disadvantaged young people in the UK.

After completing the climb, Sir Richard said: ‘God forbid, a few seconds earlier it would not have been as pretty – so I’m very thankful we got through it.

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