Under pic de l’Étendard in Alpes françaises three skiers were caught in an avalanche
In the massif des Grandes Rousses massif on the border of the Isère and Savoie departments, three skiers were caught in an avalanche directly below the pic de l’Étendard peak, which reaches 3,464 meters above sea level. The snow layer broke off just as the group was moving along the upper slope.
Since the snow was only about 30 centimeters thick, the skiers were not completely buried, although two of them were dragged down the slope. All the athletes, who were about twenty years old, suffered minor injuries. Mountain rescuers from the CRS Alpes and Savoie units arrived at the scene.
Source: Montagne : la première avalanche de l’hiver emporte trois skieurs - TG+
Context
Avalanches in October are rare for Alpes françaises, but strong wind gusts form unstable snow banks under the ridges even with small precipitation of 10–20 centimeters. The meteorological service Météo France begins issuing regular avalanche danger bulletins only from November.