In the hush that settles on the high snowfields before dawn, mountains seem to breathe stories from ages past—of travelers and storms, of quiet beauty and hidden risk. Yet in such serene expanses, nature’s transformations can turn swift and unforgiving, as a recent tragedy near Bolzano has reminded many who love the Alps.
On a winter afternoon in Val Sarentino, near the tranquil waters of the lake at San Pancrazio, a 19-year-old ski-mountaineer from Merano set out with a companion. The slopes were draped in fresh snow that had fallen in recent days, soft and inviting to the eye. Yet beneath that pristine surface lay a challenge, as the winter’s layers had not fully bonded with ice and older snow—a condition known to mountain experts to elevate avalanche risk. Shortly after beginning their descent from Laste di Verdines, a sudden slab of snow broke away, sweeping the young man under its weight.
His friend, though narrowly missed by the collapsing snow, witnessed the scene unfold, triggering an immediate alert to mountain rescue teams. Helicopters and Alpine rescuers from Sarentino, alongside the Guardia di Finanza, responded swiftly, combing the slope until they located the young man, buried under about 80 centimeters of snow. By the time he was reached, however, rescuers had only silence where once there was life.
This loss is the latest in a wave of avalanche tragedies that have marked this winter across the Alps. In just the past days, a string of similar avalanches has claimed multiple lives and heightened calls from Alpine rescue services for the utmost caution in backcountry areas. The mix of new snowfall atop older, unstable layers has created conditions where even careful backcountry skiers and climbers can be caught unaware by powerful snow movements.
For many in the mountaineering community, these moments provoke a complex blend of sorrow and contemplation. The mountains are places of both allure and respect—where athletes and enthusiasts test their skills, and where unpredictability is always part of the landscape. These recent events underscore the sober reminder that nature’s beauty is inseparable from its risks.
Amid expressions of grief and solidarity with the family and friends of the young man, authorities continue to urge skiers, climbers, and hikers to heed avalanche bulletins, to plan conservatively, and to equip themselves with safety tools appropriate for winter alpine travel. In these precautions lies the hope that future journeys may return home in full, carrying only stories of snow and sky rather than loss.
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SOURCES : la Repubblica Reuters People