Yesterday Andreas Franson and JP Auclair were killed climbing to ski in Patagonia
Details so far are sketchy (some of my friends here in Cham were invlved in orgonising the rescue and are still very shake so I'm only getting this 3rd hand)
They were climbing a couloir, nearing the top something moved above them, the coiulir avalanched all the way to the glacier below.
The nearest physical help was their filmers, but they were on peaks the opposite side aof the valley - the rescue chopper had 2 hours to fly before beggining it's search. AFAIK thier boddies were finaly found this morning. (more details as I get them)
I heard this afternoon and this evening 30 of us gatherd in Moo bar for a very somber drink. We have lost a very close friend who was more philospher than daredevill. He was (again AFAIK) one exam away from his full mountain guide certification.
JP I only knew to say high to in the Midi lift que, but his exploits in the freeski and freeride world go back 2 decades. He had just returned to living in Canada having lived abroad for a while so he and his wife could have their first child in his homeland.
The flowing movie, has a rather ponient section 15.00 in about another common friend of ours we had lost. Now not Just Feilx but last year Magnus (Jesus hat in this movie), JP and Andreas
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Sad and sorry for the loss of your friends. I did not have the pleasure of knowing either of them. Will have a small drink in their memory if that is acceptable to you and your friends.
This is really saddening news I can hardly believe I'm reading it! I've grown up watching JP in all of the ski movies and loved watching what Andreas got up to in Chamonix. Another loss to the skiing community, my thoughts go out to you and all friends and families.
If you've ever skied a twin tip or modern Salomon ski you probably find JP had an influence.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Terrible news We may search out these beautiful lines and they make our lives worthwhile, but the moments of beauty sometimes carry a heavy price just due to chance. An inspiring pair of great skiers, they will be sorely missed.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Rest in peace, what a life it was though! Watched a couple of the videos posted, they achieved some incredible stuff!
RIP you two legends! Thoughts go out to family and friends
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Those two have featured in some of the most jaw dropping ski films ever. The JP Auclair street segment is probably my number one....and the clip of Andreas' descending the Pain de Sucre is possibly the most extreme skiing descent image ever seen.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
so sad - Andreas was a lovely guy, who I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing at Kendal festival.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Idris, I love this quote - "Things change... I'm not out there any more to find perfection. Now, it's just about going out into the mountains, because, I have realised, it's the best way for me to spend my precious time on earth."
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Horrible news Idris.....
Andreas was undoubtedly one of the top ski mountaineers on the planet.
Like many I have lived vicariously through his internet adventures, videos and blogs.
Going to miss them.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Very sad news.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Very sad indeed; JP and Andreas were both influential and inspirational
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Very sorry to read that Idris.
Thoughts are with you and their families.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Very sorry to see this thread, I have loved their movies, and often yelled at family members to come and see this. So sorry for their friends and families.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Hey Idris, between Andreas, JP and Liz D the bad news just kept rolling in yesterday...
Add in Basti Haag and Andrea Zambaldi last week and September 2014 will definitely go down in the history of ski mountaineering for all the wrong reasons.
To quote Ptor S: "celebrate their lives...send love to their families and friends...then look hard at the details of the accident scenarios."
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Very sad news! My thoughts are with their family and friends
Planetski.eu have amoving tribute to both men. Shows what grounded, skilled and really nice chaps they were. So sad.
Ride well in powder Heaven, RIP.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
As well as all action vids he was also a good writer.
"Word after word, situation after situation and feeling after feeling – life goes on like a continuous wave that we can be on top of, under or behind."
I did not know him but came across this tragedy via some Swedes I know on FB
In their words...
It's been two intense days in the our household and we have again been reminded to seize the moment and live it. All our thoughts are with the families of Andreas and JP.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Grim news, nothing to add but well said everybody.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
a very sad day.
Some more detail via Trey Cooke on Facebook.
I’ve spoken with Stefan Palm, an instructor in the SBO Svenska Bersgguides Organisationen, who passed me a few details about the tragic accident that claimed the lives of Andreas Fransson and JP Auclair.
What is known is that on 29th Sept at around mid-day in Patagonia, Andreas Fransson and JP Auclair planned to climb and ski the San Lorenzo couloir on Monte San Lorenzo, a 3,706 meter peak on the border of Chile and Argentina in the Patagonian Andes. About two-thirds of the way up, they were swept by a snow release very high above them that carried them about 700 meters down the couloir on to a heavily crevassed glacier.
Filmakers Bjarne Salén and Daniel Rönnbäck were in place to film the descent when they saw the accident happen but were separated by four hours of heavily crevassed terrain. Using their radio, they tried to contact Andreas and JP but there was no answer to their calls. Bjarne and Daniel then used their satellite phone to call Swedish mountain guide Per Ås (in France) and Rolo Garibotti, an Argentine climber who is an authority on the area (currently in Italy) who both advised them to stay put due to the immense and dangerous glacier, cloudy weather, limited time, as well as the difficult situation they were in. Per immediately called his colleague Stefan Palm who has a large network in Chile.
Garibotti then contacted a number of people and by luck Chilean climber Armando Montero happened to be at the trailhead of San Lorenzo, about to start an ascent of the peak. Montero returned to the closest town - Cochrane, Chile - and informed the local authorities. Once the rescue was started Montero and his partner headed back up the mountain, to meet Bjarne and Daniel, whom they met that evening at their base camp.
Stefan Palm also contacted Joaquin Oyarzun, from Heli Ski Guides, a Chilean outfit, to try to organize a helicopter rescue but found that the closest heli was 200 miles away and wouldn’t be able to leave unit the next day, 30 Sept.
Fast action by the authorities, police and military ensured that on Tuesday, 30 Sept at 9:00a, a helicopter flew over to the accident site. The helicopter stopped at basecamp and picked up Montero, an experienced guide and mountaineer. Because of the severe terrain the helicopter was unable to land but nevertheless flew quite low and were able to spot both climbers. Both pilot and Montero who were in the heli reported they had no doubt that both skiers were dead and had probably died immediately. A rescue attempt was therefore called off.
Because the accident occurred on the Argentinian side of the mountain the body recovery is now in the hands of the Argentine gendarmerie. On Tuesday morning a team of five Argentine gendarmes set off to try to reach the bodies. Because of the remoteness it is unlikely that a foot mission will succeed, but there is hope to secure a helicopter later today.
I've also received news that Bjarne and Daniel are now safely off the mountain.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the family and many friends of these two beloved skiers. Special thanks go to Armando Montero and his partner, as well as to Alvaro Herrera, the captain of Carabineros of Cochrane, and to the rest of the authorities that have helped so far.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Sad, sad day...and a very harsh reminder of the risks for those of us who ski offpiste, even though nowhere as remote as this.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
Two world class skiers.
