© Police ValaisMonday’s avalanche at ‘Stairway to Heaven’ near Nendaz, Switzerland.
On Wednesday, a separate, massive avalanche was triggered outside the marked tracks in the same location near the Col de Gentianes on the Nendaz side. It was between 300 and 400 meters wide and triggered an extensive search and rescue effort involving eight rescue helicopters and several search dogs. It was unclear at the time how many people may have been buried in the snow. At one stage, it was believed that up to ten skiers were in the avalanche, but apparently, all could free themselves and did not require medical assistance. Unfortunately, the extended search and rescue efforts found a Russian skier, aged 58, for whom all help came too late, and he was declared dead at the scene.
Comment: See also: Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort, California breaks all-time season snowfall record with 654 inches of snow