Backcountry Skiers Die in Japan and Alps
There have been several backcountry deaths over the past few months, always be sure to check the conditions report before heading out
It’s been a sketchy year in the backcountry of many popular areas over the past few months, with several tragic accidents taking place recently.
In Switzerland, six skiers went missing while on a tour around the Col de Tête Blanche at about 3,500 -3,700 metres. Search and rescue technicians searched for them on Saturday and Sunday, finding five of the missing people. Police have not released a cause of death. According police. the group took every measure to survive the night, including digging a snow cave.
At Mount Yotei in Japan, three backcountry skiers were struck by an avalanche. Search and rescue workers arrived to find two skiers had died. According to Japan’s meteorological agency, there was no avalanche alert in effect for the area.
Several other backcountry users have been killed after being invloved in avalanches over the past month, including a skier in Zermatt, and a snow-biker and sledder in separate incidents in BC. Below is new footage taken by a skier in the San Juan Mountain on March 1.​​​
Slab Avalanche
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