Off-trail avalanche kills 2 skiers and injures 1 in northern Italy

Two skiers were killed and another injured in an avalanche that struck an off-trail route in the Italian Alps on Sunday, highlighting growing safety concerns in the region’s backcountry areas amid deteriorating snow conditions.

The deadly slide occurred Sunday morning in the Couloir Vesses, a popular freeride route in Courmayeur, located in the upper Val Veny region of the Mont Blanc massif near the borders of France and Switzerland, according to Italy’s Alpine Rescue service.

Emergency responders launched an extensive rescue operation involving fifteen rescue workers, three canine units, and two helicopters. One victim was initially transported to a hospital in serious condition but later succumbed to injuries. In a separate incident reported the same day, another person was partially buried by an avalanche in Trentino but was successfully rescued by companions.

This tragedy adds to a concerning trend of mountain fatalities in the region. Just last week, Italian Alpine Rescue officials reported that 13 backcountry skiers, climbers, and hikers died in the Italian mountains during a seven-day period ending February 8, with 10 of those deaths attributed to avalanches.

Courmayeur, a mountain town of approximately 2,900 residents situated about 200 kilometers (124 miles) northwest of Milan, is known as a premier alpine destination. The area lies within the broader region that will host events during the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Alpine safety experts point to a particularly dangerous combination of weather and snow conditions creating heightened avalanche risk across the Italian Alps. Recent storms have deposited fresh snowfall on already unstable layers, while strong winds have created snow-loaded areas prone to triggering slides.

“We’re seeing an exceptionally unstable snowpack this season,” said a representative from the Italian Alpine Club who requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. “The combination of new snow on weak internal layers creates perfect conditions for dangerous slab avalanches that can be triggered by even a single skier.”

The current dangerous conditions extend beyond Italy’s borders, affecting the entire Alpine crescent that stretches across France, Switzerland, and Austria. Mountain safety authorities have urged backcountry enthusiasts to exercise extreme caution when venturing into uncontrolled terrain.

Avalanche deaths have been trending upward across European mountain regions in recent years, partly due to increased popularity of off-piste skiing and snowboarding, coupled with climate change affecting snowpack stability. According to the European Avalanche Warning Services, an average of 100 people die annually in avalanches across European mountains.

Tourism officials in affected regions face the delicate balance of promoting winter sports while emphasizing safety. Many Alpine resorts have enhanced avalanche safety education programs and improved access to safety equipment rentals in response to growing accident numbers.

Experts recommend that backcountry travelers carry essential avalanche safety equipment—transceiver, probe, and shovel—and obtain proper training before venturing off-piste. They also stress the importance of checking daily avalanche bulletins and adjusting plans according to current conditions.

As search and rescue teams continue their work in the Mont Blanc region, local authorities are reviewing whether additional safety measures or warnings might be necessary for popular off-piste routes like the Couloir Vesses.

The incidents serve as a sobering reminder of nature’s power in mountain environments, especially during a winter season marked by particularly treacherous conditions throughout the Alpine region.