Analysis by Avalanche Tirol of the avalanche site. | Image: Alpinpolizei Tirol
Two Austrian backcountry skiers were found dead Saturday, February 28, after being reported missing during a backcountry ascent of Tamlspitze in the Tux Valley of western Austria, authorities said.
The 44-year-old and 47-year-old men had set out earlier in the day on a ski tour to Tamlspitze, a peak above the village of Lanersbach in the municipality of Tux, in the state of Tyrol. When they failed to return, they were reported missing at approximately 8:00 p.m. on February 28. According to Avalanche Tirol, the pair were highly experienced and well equipped.
Mountain rescue teams from Tux and Mayrhofen immediately launched a search operation. However, officials said an ongoing and extremely dangerous avalanche situation forced rescuers to suspend ground operations between 12:45 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. due to safety concerns.
The red circle marks the burial site of the two backcountry skiers.| Image: Lawinenwarndienst Tirol
On Sunday morning, March 1, the crew of a police helicopter observed multiple avalanches in the Tamlspitze area. Weather conditions, including poor visibility, prevented a full aerial search, and initial attempts to detect signals from avalanche beacons were unsuccessful. Authorities said deploying rescuers on the ground remained too dangerous because of unstable snowpack and avalanche risk. Search flights resumed intermittently when brief weather windows allowed, but without immediate results.
At approximately 12:30 p.m., during another aerial sweep, the helicopter crew detected and localized an avalanche transceiver signal north of Tamlspitze. Mountain rescuers and alpine police officers were transported to the site, where they continued the search on the ground using transceiver equipment. Around 1:00 p.m., the first victim was located and recovered from the avalanche debris. Shortly afterward, a second transceiver signal was detected nearby, and the second skier was also found and uncovered. An emergency physician at the scene pronounced both men dead.
Rescue efforts involved the Mayrhofen and Tux mountain rescue units, an emergency medical helicopter, and the Austrian police helicopter.
Avalanche Tirol advised that the slab avalanche was triggered on a northeast slope at about 2,600 meters (8,530 feet). The cause of the accident was an angularly built-up weak layer in the old snow near the ground. The so called “old snow problem” persists across the Alps and slab avalanches can still be easily triggered and become very large in some places. Avalanche Tirol emphasized to exercise extreme caution below steep slopes.
The tragedy brings Austria’s avalanche death toll to 28 for the current winter season—more than two and a half times the country’s 10-year average of approximately 11 fatalities per season.
Tyrol, a popular destination for ski touring and off-piste skiing, has experienced periods of heightened avalanche danger this winter due to unstable snow layers and repeated storm cycles. Authorities continue to urge backcountry travelers to monitor avalanche forecasts carefully and exercise extreme caution in alpine terrain.
Analysis by Avalanche Tirol of the avalanche site. | Image: Alpinpolizei Tirol