A Week of Tragedies in the Mountains
There have been several deaths and disappearances over the past few days
There have been several tragedies in the mountain world over the past week, from climbers going missing to skiers falling down peaks to mountaineers dying from exposure. The month started with the news that a climber had died while on Denali in Alaska, his two partners were rescued – read more here.
In Europe, three skiers died this week in falls while on difficult alpine lines. World cup skier Jean Daniel Pession and his girlfriend, Elisa Arlian, died in a 700-metre fall from the top of Italy’s Monte Zerbion. RAI, Italy’s broadcasting company, said in a tweet that rescuers found them “still tied together, like in a final embrace.” Luca Bernini, 34, died attempting to ski the east face of the Matterhorn this week. He and another skier had made it to just below the summit when Bernini, a climbing instructor with the Italian Alpine Club, lost his balance and fell 1,000 metres.
In the Andes, Italian climbing guide Tomas Franchini died this week after an accident while climbing Nevado Cashan with Cristobal Senoret. Franchini fell through a cornice that was next to his and Senoret’s tent.
And on Canada’s west coast, three climbers went missing late last week during a climb up Atwell Peak in Garibaldi Park north of Squamish. There has been extensive news coverage of the event, as Squamish Search and Rescue has been using drones and avalanche dogs in hopes of finding the climbers, who have not been named. Follow along on Instagram below.
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