A backcountry skier narrowly avoided serious injury Friday after triggering an avalanche on the south face of Pic du Midi in the French Pyrenees. The incident, which occurred around 11 a.m. local time, underscores the inherent risks of off-piste skiing and the importance of avalanche preparedness, particularly as challenging winter conditions persist across the region. Rescue teams are urging skiers to check forecasts and exercise extreme caution this weekend, as the avalanche risk remains elevated.
A skier triggered an avalanche on the south face of Pic du Midi on Friday, January 30th, but miraculously escaped serious injury. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of backcountry skiing, particularly with current weather conditions.
Two skiers were skiing a route known as “Roche Noire” on the south face of Pic du Midi when they triggered an avalanche around 11 a.m. on January 30th, according to the CRS Pyrénées mountain rescue service.
One of the skiers was carried several hundred meters down the slope before coming to rest in the Coume du Pic du Midi. Remarkably, he ended up on the surface of the snow flow.
Pic du Midi Cabin Operator Alerts Rescue Teams
“His companion immediately rescued him,” said a rescuer from the Gavarnie CRS post. “The victim was fortunate not to be buried.”
The cabin operator at Pic du Midi, who witnessed the avalanche, quickly alerted mountain rescue services.
Two CRS rescuers and a doctor from the Samu 65 medical service responded to the scene aboard the Choucas 65 helicopter from the Tarbes aerial gendarmerie section.
Avalanche Risk Remains High This Weekend
The 28-year-old victim sustained dorsal and facial trauma but was not seriously injured, according to the CRS mountain rescue service. He received care with appropriate precautions. Both skiers were equipped with avalanche safety gear, including airbag packs and avalanche transceivers.
The CRS Pyrénées stresses the importance of carefully reviewing avalanche forecasts and weather conditions before venturing into backcountry terrain, especially on steep slopes. They warn that conditions this weekend, including wind and recent snowfall, require careful route planning.
“Wind is causing snow to accumulate on certain slopes, creating particularly hazardous conditions,” officials said.
The avalanche risk is currently rated at 3 out of 5, indicating a marked threat.
