 Poster: A snowHead
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Snapped by a pisteur on the spot Thursday, the slide in question took on unexpected dimensions! Snowhead JimW was a spectator as the spectacular 'aerosol' effect resulted in a huge airborne avalanche, some 150m wide, and carried 800 metres down the Varet back run on the Aiguille Rouge.
No injuries, but some very worried onlookers apparently! The sequence of photos in this article are a graphic illustration of the extremely high risk level involved in off-piste skiing and boarding at the present time. Huge quantities of snow, high winds, fluctuating temperatures, all on a shallow, fragile snowpack. For the time being anyone considering venturing off piste should only do so with an accredited local guide. Risk level is currently hovering between 4 and 5 (maximum), so be careful out there...
And the snow continues to fall... 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Those are incredible photos!
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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?
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Spectacular series of shots.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Amazing pics. You can see that it has gone right across the flying K
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Must have scared quite a few people....!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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They are frightening pictures! 
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Reassuring though - the area was cleared to a safe distance, it shows how much care is taken to ensure safety in and around the pistes. They must be working overtime at the moment - it hasn't stopped snowing since dawn this morning...
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Wow that looks massive, do wonder how that looked in first person!
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| For the time being anyone considering venturing off piste should only do so with an accredited local guide. Risk level is currently hovering between 4 and 5 (maximum), so be careful out there... |
Doesn't need to be 4 or 5 for that. When I was on top of the Schilthorn (Murren, Switserland) an off-piste skier/boarder triggered an avalange and got killed. Didn't see it happen, but the area closed a while after due to avalange risks. When I got down and inspected the Avalange bulletin the Jungfrau area was around 2 to 3 that day and the warning lights were blinking.
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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.
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I do remember a big glacial fall whilst in the car park at Entreves, only aware when we heard the crack and it scared the pooh out of us.... watching it from a few miles away the dust took ages to subside and we can still see the bare rock it left behind every time I go back
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Exactly the same thing happened in Espace Killy when I was there a few weeks ago. Blasting which should have lead to a medium slide set off almost exactly the same thing and the airbourne avalanche went 800m. Worst thing about it was that they had accidentally opened a lift that gave access to the slope and just before they blasted on bit of the slope (which didn't get airbourne) they noticed a group of skiers on the slope. If the skiers had traversed in 2 minutes later, I dread to think what would have happned.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I once saw the end of the Black Rock glacier (between the Eiger and and Monch) fall off. We heard a staggering crack (we were on the Lauberhorn at the time) and saw tons and tons of ice fall down the cliff face. The ground shook on the Lauberhorn - totally awesome and very frightening.
I've seen a number of large avalanches relatively close up during my life, but never a powder snow one thank god!
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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.
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great pictures PG. Quick question is the snow that has then been dumped down by the avalanche release skiable or it is very crusty & lumpy 
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Bone-shaking lumps at the moment, that throw your skis all over the place - I've skied through several slides like that this week. No crust (the snow's still falling pretty heavily right now) but I've seen a few skiers and boarders come a cropper when the lumps are just under the surface...
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You know it makes sense.
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death muffins
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| PG wrote: |
| Bone-shaking lumps at the moment, |
Is that typical of snow that has been been blasted for avalanche protection?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Especially if there's a freeze-thaw cycle at the time, death cookies can be a hazard!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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great photos PG.
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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?
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| rob@rar.org.uk wrote: |
| PG wrote: |
| Bone-shaking lumps at the moment, |
Is that typical of snow that has been been blasted for avalanche protection? |
Typical of avalanche debris - the violent action sticks it together like when you squeeze snow to make snowballs, but more so.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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PG, thanks!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Mrs W has a video of the evenT - not the greatest, she admits, as there was a degree of alarm and running away involved! When we get home I'll try and piece together the best bits and post it ether here, or a link to it.
It was an awesome sight tho!
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FAQ
