Pirin Mountains: Another Avalanche, Another Life Lost

A young Norwegian skier was killed this afternoon in the Pirin Mountains when he ventured off-piste into one of the gullies which drop down from Mount Todorin Vrah towards the Demyanitsa Valley and was then caught up in an avalanche. This is the third death from avalanches this year in the Pirin Mountains, and once again the Bulgarian Mountain Rescue Services are calling on people not to venture off-piste into these dangerous avalanche regions.

Rila Mountains: Avalanche Incident below Mount Musala

Having successfully reached the summit of Mount Musala in the Rila Mountains, a group of skiers attempted to ski down one of the gullies on the eastern flank of the peak towards Ledenoto Ezero. However, almost immediately after the first skier set off, a slab-type avalanche broke away behind him and swept him up. Thankfully one of his fellow skiers managed to located him very quickly and partly dig him out. The rescue was then assisted by meteorologists from the weather-station on the summit of Mount Musala and the victim was swiftly dug out and found to be miraculously unharmed!

'Pirin' National Park: Clamping Down on Illegal Extreme Sports

The growing tendency for off-piste skiing and snowboarding, and the increasing illegal use of snowmobiles and ATV (all terrain vehicles) within the 'Pirin' National Park has just been highlighted by the Directorate of the 'Pirin' National Park. Such activities are in direct contravention of the Protected Areas Act and the Management Plan for the 'Pirin' National Park. Furthermore, these activities frequently trigger avalanches in the mountains.

The Directorate of the 'Pirin' National Park is now reminding tourist agencies and other operators currently promoting and organising such extreme sports that these activities are illegal within the 'Pirin' National Park, and that in future they will be clamping down on them and that legal action will be taken against those ignoring and breaking the national park regulations.

Pirin Mountains: Another Skier Dies in an Avalanche

Another skier lost his life in the Pirin Mountains today when he was caught by an avalanche falling from Platoto towards the Demyanishka Dolina. His other three companions escaped without serious injury.

Pirin Mountains: Another Avalanche Falls in the Banderitsa Valley

For the second day running an avalanche has fallen into the Banderitsa Valley in Bulgaria's Pirin Mountains. According to reports nine people were attempting to climb from the 'Banderitsa' mountain hut towards Kazanite when the avalanche struck. Thankfully none of them were actually buried by the avalanche, but one woman suffered head injuries and was evacuated to hospital by the Bulgarian Mountain Rescue Services.

Once again the Bulgarian Mountain Rescue Services are warning that there is currently hightened avalanche danger in the mountains, and reiterating their demands that skiers, snowboarders and hikers only use prepared pistes and marked winter trails.

Pirin Mountains: Avalanche Kills Skier in the Banderitsa Valley

Tragically, a 29-year old skier from Bansko was today killed in the Pirin Mountains by an avalanche which fell down one of the many avalanche gulleys on the western flank of Mount Todorin Vrah (Mount Todorka) towards the Banderitsa Valley. The accident was spotted from a lift by Macedonian tourists and the Bulgarian Mountain Rescue Services were swiftly on the scene. Despite quickly locating the victim, they were unable to revive him. Although an experienced skier and former ski-instructor, it seems that he, like many other skiers and snowboarders, was tempted off-piste into a region that is known to be at risk from avalanches. Almost exactly a year to the day, on 28 January 2009, a snowboarder was killed by an avalanche in the same place. Recent extreme temperature fluctuations combined with fresh snow are currently hightening the risk of avalanches in this region.