This video from an avalanche in France was taken a week ago. It’s scary. It caught the 5th skier on the slope, typical of a persistent slab avalanche, and propagated large enough to take 4 people out who thought they were in a safe zone:
Looks like the viewer made the video private. Sorry. In the video, the snowboarder in the image sets off a slide that takes out the group in the bottom of the image.
Luckily, no one was killed, but 3 of the victims were injured. Below is a write-up from the YouTube link:
6 people in the group; 5 people taken in the avalanche; 3 partially buried, 2 totally buried (under approx 30 cm); Avalanche released when the 5th person was skiing. 3 people injured needing medical attention e.g. broken bones and torn ligaments; 1 person spent 4 days in the hospital.
Avalanche characteristics
Slope Aspect: North
Slope Steepness: approx 30° at point where the 5th skier was at time of release (approx 35-45° at crown)
Crown
– distance width: approx 450 m at top
– depth (average approx): 20-40 cm (deepest point ?)
– altitude (average approx) at top 450m of crown: 2915
Avalanche flow distance: 2925 m – 2500 m approx vertical
Distance the 5th person travelled in the avalanche (the longest ride of victims) : 372 vertical metres traveled (2908 m to 2536 m); approx 1.2 km total distance
Snowpack summary: windblown powder on faceted grains
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