Drama of the Valais Alps

Route La Serpentine, seen from the Col du Tsijiore Nouve (approx. 3450 m) to the Col du Brenay (3615 m). The Pigne d'Arolla is partially visible on the left edge of the image.

The Drama of the Valais Alps is a mountain accident that took place in the Valais Alps on 29 April 2018. A group of ski tourers attempting the Haute Route between Chamonix and Zermatt perished due to hypothermia.

Expedition

A mountain guide and nine of his clients were trying to reach Zermatt from Chamonix on the slopes of the Pigne d'Arolla in the Val d'Hérens on 29 April 2018. ^{[1] [2]} It was on the fourth day of a planned six day expedition. The group had originally planned to stay that night at Nacamuli hut, but, due to poor weather forecasts, changed their plan to ski to Vignettes hut instead, which was only a short ski descent from Pigne d'Arolla. ^[3]

The group successfully summited Pigne d'Arolla by midday. However, because of poor weather and limited visibility, the group descended in crampons rather than on skis, in whiteout conditions. An additional four lost French skiers had joined the group during the whiteout, as well. Descending on crampons considerably slowed their descent, and night began to fall and the party had still not reached Vignettes hut. By this point, the group wanted to call for help, but the satellite phone did not have power. The group was forced to dig in for the night, with only space blankets for shelter and without any food or water, in very cold temperatures and high winds. The group was not rescued until the next morning. ^{[4] [5]}

Aftermath

Seven people died of hypothermia and exhaustion. The last to die was a 42-year-old woman, Francesca Von Felten, from Parma, who died in the Valais hospital to which she had been airlifted. ^[6] In all, a total of 16 people died in the Alps that weekend during the storm. ^[7]

Several causes may have contributed to the disaster. The guide's GPS malfunctioned during the whiteout. Vignettes hut was not aware that the group was coming. ^{[8] [9]} The group may have been too large for one guide. ^[10] When the group decided to call for help, the satellite phone was out of batteries. ^[11]

See also

• List of mountaineering disasters by death toll

References

1. "Tragödie in den Alpen - Todesfalle Haute Route – die Rekonstruktion eines Dramas". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). Retrieved 2025-02-08.
2. Sprick, Max (2023-04-27). "SRF-Doku über tödliche Tragödie an der Haute Route: Die Eis-Hölle". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in Swiss High German). ISSN   0376-6829 . Retrieved 2025-02-08.
3. "Disaster in the Alps". Outside Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
4. "Disaster in the Alps". Outside Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
5. "Tragödie in den Alpen - Todesfalle Haute Route – die Rekonstruktion eines Dramas". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). Retrieved 2025-02-08.
6. Sprick, Max (2023-04-27). "SRF-Doku über tödliche Tragödie an der Haute Route: Die Eis-Hölle". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in Swiss High German). ISSN   0376-6829 . Retrieved 2025-02-08.
7. "Disaster in the Alps". Outside Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
8. "Disaster in the Alps". Outside Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
9. "Tragödie in den Alpen - Todesfalle Haute Route – die Rekonstruktion eines Dramas". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). Retrieved 2025-02-08.
10. "Tragödie in den Alpen - Todesfalle Haute Route – die Rekonstruktion eines Dramas". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). Retrieved 2025-02-08.
11. "Disaster in the Alps". Outside Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-25.