Deadly avalanche in Greppon Blanc on 20 March 2021
The average annual number of people caught in avalanches over the last 20 years is 177. This winter 296 people were affected, a 67% rise. 215 (73%) of the avalanches this season were triggered by people, compared to an average of 113 over the last 20 seasons.
Over the same 20-year timespan an average of 18 lives were lost in avalanche accidents per ski season. Up until the end of March 2021, 27 people had died in avalanches this winter season, 50% more than an average season.
11 of the deaths were among ski tourers and 16 among free riders. The 4-Valleys region, which includes Verbier, was the deadliest region. Seven (26%) of the season's total avalanche deaths occurred there.
According to the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research, a thin fragile layer of snow, which fell high up in autumn, made future snow unstable. In addition, the melting and freezing of old snow throughout a season with large swings in temperature increased the risk of thick layers of snow breaking away.
Avalanches are deadly. Nothing unusual about that.
What an oxymoron.