UKC

Sounds nasty, with some consequences 5 dead, 2 missing:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34259358

Thoughts with their families... hoping it's not people from this parish

In reply to balmybaldwin:

Alas, seven fatalities, reported to be Czechs and Germans: http://www.ledauphine.com/hautes-alpes/2015/09/15/massif-des-ecrins-plusieu... Described as a windslab, whereas I'd have assumed a serac collapse at this stage of the season. Even the easy Alpine routes have their hazards, as this tragedy demonstrates all too clearly.

In reply to balmybaldwin:

Dreadful news. And this on what must be many novices' first real Alpine peak and probably thought to be about as safe as it gets. Or am I wrong?

In reply to Rog Wilko:


Yes desperately sad news from the Pelvoux region of the Ecrins from two days ago with seven climbers killed and another seriously injured in an avalanche on the Dome de Neige. You are quite right in that the Dome de Neige with it's easy access and modest grade is many novices' first Alpine peak, although there are/were some pretty scary looking seracs you have to traverse underneath when my friends and I went up the Dome + Barre des Ecrins a couple of summers ago...
Anyway I wish the injured climber a full + speedy recovery and sincere + deepest condolences to all family, friends and loved ones of the seven.

In reply to BALD EAGLE:

As you say, there are some nasty seracs there. But according to the news reports the conditions were very wintry with a heavy fall of snow. This resulted in an avalanche 250m long and about a metre deep, so a lot of snow.

It seems the hut guardian advised them against the climb due to avalanche risk but, sadly, they went ahead.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2015/09/16/01016-20150916ARTFIG0045...

My thoughts are with the survivor and the families of those who died.

In reply to Slarti B:




A lesson for us all there.