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2025 Archive Index - All Editions

In This Edition:

Mechanics of densely packed snow across scales

In many technical and geomechanics applications, for example ski design or avalanche prediction, the capability to model the mechanical behaviour of snow is of high importance. We propose to extend the 3-D H-model, a constitutive law originally developed for granular materials, to densely packed snow. In the model, single ice grains are described by spherical particles bonded by brittle elasto-viscoplastic bridges. Snow is thus described explicitly through its ice skeleton microstructure. As a validation, confined compression test results from the literature are used to assess the model. Multiple parameter studies were conducted to demonstrate the capability of the model to capture the behaviour of different snow types over a significant range of temperatures and loading rates at small deformations. The initial bond radius emerges as an effective proxy for snow aging under isothermal conditions. Additionally, low strain rates and elevated temperatures are shown to influence the viscous response of ice bonds, their failure rates and the overall stress within the snow material.
More ... (Cambridge University Press)

Massive glacier icefall avalanche triggers debris flow, buries village

A huge portion of a glacier in the Swiss Alps has broken off, sending rock, mud and ice crashing onto the village of Blatten. Authorities have been warning of a potential collapse of the Birch glacier for weeks now as cracks appeared in the ice. Earlier this month, villagers and livestock were evacuated from Blatten, which sits in the valley below the glacier and is home to around 300 people.

Webcam and drone images from 28 May show enormous plumes of dust billowing into the Alpine valley as the glacier collapsed, with a huge wave of mud and boulders covering the hillsides and most of the village. There are no reports of casualties, although one person has been reported missing, according to a press conference held in a neighbouring village on 28 May. The village of Blatten is now largely buried under rubble. The glacier collapse caused an earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale, according to seismic data.

Images from the site suggest that in addition to the village, huge swathes of forest have also been destroyed and debris has blocked the nearby Lonza river, increasing the risk of flooding to the area.
Source ... (New Scientist)

Avalanche Internship for fundraising and outreach in Utah

The US Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center is hiring two interns to join its team for the upcoming winter season. The internship runs from August 25, 2025, through April 3, 2026, requiring approximately 20 hours per week. Applicants must be available for weekend and evening work. The position does not guarantee any on-snow experience. Interns will be paid $15 per hour. Tasks include contributing to UAC fundraising efforts, fulfilling online orders and assisting with social media, representing the UAC at public events, and other various fundraising and community outreach tasks.
Source ... (Town Lift)

5 Skiers Found Dead Near Zermatt amid ‘Extremely Difficult’ Weather

The bodies of five skiers were discovered on a glacier close to the summit of the Rimpfischhorn mountain near Zermatt, Switzerland, police announced on Sunday, May 25. The alarm was raised when two climbers came across abandoned skis at the foot of the summit of the mountain. The bodies were “quickly discovered” once a rescue helicopter flown by Air Zermatt with medical professionals on board arrived in the area. Air Zermatt said a group of mountaineers had spotted four pairs of abandoned skis at an altitude of about 4,000 metres (13,123 feet) as they made their way up the Rimpfischhorn. The Swiss helicopter rescue agency said it found three bodies on an avalanche cone. The firm added that the additional two bodies were found about 650 feet away. The victims were located on the Adler glacier. Police say formal identification of the victims is ongoing, while the Attorney General has opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the accident.

Air Zermatt said “extremely difficult” weather conditions of “heavy wind and fog” on the day of the incident meant they had to carry out another challenging rescue mission just before the discovery of the five skiers' bodies. The BBC reported that two mountaineers had become stranded on the nearby Fiescherhörner mountain with an initial rescue attempt having to be aborted, while a subsequent attempt six hours later was successful. The Rimpfischhorn is a 4,199-metre (13,776-foot) mountain that lies east of Zermatt, near the Italian border. It is popular with off-piste skiers.
More... (Yahoo News Canada)

Pro Snowboarder Killed In Eiger Avalanche

An avalanche on Switzerland’s Eiger buried seven people on Saturday, May 17, killing two of the victims, according to Swiss authorities. One of those fatalities was 23-year-old professional snowboarder and Swiss native Eliot Dänzer, who was a rising start on the Freeride World Tour’s (FWT) Challenger Series. The other fatality was a 21-year-old Swiss national whom authorities had not named as of Tuesday afternoon.

The five other skiers caught in the slide Saturday suffered a range of injuries and were flown to an area hospital. It was first reported that at least one of the two people who had been killed in the slide died on the scene, the other was resuscitated on site and then later died of their injuries at the hospital.
More... (The Inertia)

7 Skiers Caught, 2 Killed by Large Avalanche

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, a large avalanche on the western side of Switzerland's Eiger caught and carried seven people. Five of the skiers were injured and two died in the accident. At 1:45 p.m., the Bern Cantonal Police received reports of an avalanche on the Eiger. Emergency services including members of the Swiss Alpine Rescue, members of the Bern Cantonal Police, two avalanche rescue dogs, three Rega helicopter teams, four Air-Glaciers helicopters, and a Swiss Helicopter were dispatched to the area. The Bernese Oberland Regional Public Prosecutors Office is conducting further investigations.

The avalanche occurred above the Grindenwald-Wengen ski area and was triggered by falling ice. While high-altitude areas in the Alps still hold enough snow to ski in May, warming temperatures often cause falling ice and avalanches. A serac fall triggered another avalanche in the Mont Blanc area on Thursday, May 15, but no one was injured. 
Source... (MSN)

Relief materials reach avalanche-hit Tilgaon in Humla

Kathmandu, May 22 - Relief materials have reached Tilgaon-6 of Namkha Rural Municipality in Humla, following the avalanche that struck on the night of May 14. According to Humla’s Chief District Officer Narayan Pandey, the relief items were first transported by vehicle up to the motorable road and then carried to Tilgaon by horses and mules. He said the supplies included both medicine and food items. He added that since the avalanche had swept away the drinking water pipeline, 10 sacks of cement and 1,800 meters of pipe were also sent to repair the water supply. “The relief materials have been delivered. Now a study team will examine the glacial lake,” he said

Out of 50 households in Tilgaon, 32 people from 18 households are currently staying in the village. Because their homes are at risk due to the avalanche, they have begun staying in nearby schools and tents. Although the houses have not been physically damaged, they are still at risk.
Source... (Online Khabar)

Solitude's New Avalanche Dog In Training

On Monday, May 29, 2025, Solitude officially introduced their newest avalanche rescue dog in training to the world. Dezi, a 15-week old female Labrador retriever mix, was rescued from Best Friends Animal Society, a Salt Lake City animal shelter. According to Solitude, Dezi is "primarily" a Lab with a mix of Boxer, Australian Shepard, and German Shepard. she will need to undergo a series of training and certifications before she can officially become part of Solitude's Ski Patrol team. Namely, Dezi will need to pass Wasatch Backcountry Rescue's (WBR) Level A readiness test, according to Solitude. WBR's Level A test is the highest level of certification for an avalanche rescue dog and handler. To certify, the dog and handler duo are tasked with locating buried skiers in a simulated scenario at a ski area away from home. The team must locate anywhere from 1-3 skiers in less than 20 minutes to pass.
Source... (Powder)