Latest articles about Avalanche

Freerider Found Dead in Avalanche Near Obertauern After Two-Day Search Involving 60 Rescuers

Michael Fulton

April 10, 2026

Freerider Found Dead in Avalanche Near Obertauern After Two-Day Search Involving 60 Rescuers

A 40-year-old Slovakian freerider has been found dead after being buried in an avalanche near Plattenspitze, above the Austrian ski resort of Obertauern. Around 60 mountain rescuers were involved in the two-day search before the skier was located roughly 2.5 metres deep using RECCO detection. He had deployed his avalanche airbag but was not carrying a transceiver. Austria's avalanche death toll this season now sits at 31 - more than double the 10-year average.

Europe

Obertauern

Avalanche

Austria

Michael Fulton

April 9, 2026

Snowboarder Killed in Kühtai Avalanche After Group Enters Variant Terrain Without Emergency Gear

A 49-year-old German snowboarder has died after being completely buried in an avalanche at Kühtai ski resort in Austria's Tyrol region. The group of three entered off-piste terrain without carrying any avalanche emergency equipment. One was partially buried and survived; the third escaped unharmed. A large-scale rescue operation involving mountain rescue, fire brigades, helicopters and police recovered the victim - but not until hours after the slide.

Kühtai

Europe

Avalanche

Austria

Michael Fulton

April 5, 2026

American Skier Seriously Injured in Stubai Alps Avalanche, Austria

Two American backcountry skiers were caught in an avalanche in the Stubai Alps near Neustift im Stubaital, Austria, on April 3. One skier sustained a serious shoulder injury after being swept 200 metres down a steep couloir. Rescue teams airlifted both skiers from the scene.

Europe

Stubai

Avalanche

Austria

Michael Fulton

April 1, 2026

Italian Tourist Dies After Avalanche Buries Him on Off-Piste Run in Austria

Federico Giubilato, 41, was skiing off-piste in Marchkopf, Austria when an 820-foot-wide avalanche buried him under 5.2 feet of snow. Rescue crews reached him within 30 minutes, but it was too late. His death is one of more than 60 avalanche fatalities across Europe this season.

Europe

Avalanche

Austria

Michael Fulton

March 22, 2026

Two Skiers Killed in Val Ridanna Avalanche as 25 Tourers Caught on Same Slope

An avalanche at Val Ridanna in South Tyrol, Italy, struck a group of 25 ski tourers on Saturday morning, killing two and seriously injuring three others. Despite a moderate danger rating of Level 2, wind-packed snow and persistent weak layers proved deadly on the Hohe Ferse peak.

Europe

Avalanche

Italy

Michael Fulton

March 1, 2026

Europe's 2025–26 Avalanche Season: 119 Deaths and Why the Mountains Are More Dangerous Than They Look

Europe's 2025–26 avalanche season has become one of the deadliest in modern history, with 119 confirmed deaths before the end of February and the season still far from over. A buried weak layer formed in December, combined with successive storms dumping metres of snow on top of it, has created conditions that aren't visible from the surface. Here's a full breakdown of what happened, why, and what it means if you're planning a trip to the Alps.

France

Avalanche

Switzerland

Austria

Italy

Castle Peak Avalanche: California's Deadliest Slide Kills Nine Backcountry Skiers Near Lake Tahoe

Michael Fulton

February 24, 2026

Castle Peak Avalanche: California's Deadliest Slide Kills Nine Backcountry Skiers Near Lake Tahoe

On the morning of February 17, 2026, nine people lost their lives when an avalanche swept through a group of fifteen backcountry skiers near Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada. It is the deadliest avalanche in California's recorded history — and the full picture of what happened that morning raises serious questions about decision-making, risk assessment, and the weight of avalanche warnings.

Lake Tahoe

Avalanche

California

Michael Fulton

February 18, 2026

10 Skiers Missing After Avalanche Near Castle Peak, Lake Tahoe

A group of 16 skiers was caught in a large avalanche near Castle Peak in Northern California on Tuesday morning, leaving 10 people unaccounted for as emergency crews mounted a major rescue operation. The incident occurred amid an active avalanche warning and severe storm conditions across the Sierra Nevada.

Lake Tahoe

Avalanche

California