Andreas Fransson and JP Auclair Dead in Chile Avalanche

by Lou Dawson
written by Lou Dawson
Big thanks to Backcountry Access for sponsoring this avalanche education content. Check out the additional plethora of avalanche safety resources on their website.

According to this Chilean newspaper, Andreas Fransson and JP Auclair were killed by an avalanche on Mount San Lorenzo in Chile yesterday. Translated newspaper report follows. Our condolences to all.

Chilean newspaper report: Were found dead the Swedish and Canadian citizens, Andreas Fransson and JP Auclair, respectively, who disappeared yesterday following an avalanche on Mount San Lorenzo, Aysen region, which ran about 700 meters.

Both came to the town to Balmaceda on September 26 and left the next day accompanied by a tour guide with the idea filming on the mountain.

Alerted by the emergency, police flew over the area Tuesday and only managed to spot the two bodies at about 3,700 meters.

Onemi director Aysén Sidi Bravo confirmed to EPD News the individuals were found dead by police in the Argentinean side of the mountain. It also reported that already contacted the authorities of the neighboring country to rescue them.

The accident was known, said the police captain Alvaro Herrera Radio Bio Bio after the advice of a Chilean contacted by an Argentine, who in turn had spoken with two Swedes who witnessed the avalanche.

More here at Powder Magazine.

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9 comments

Tom Gos September 30, 2014 - 4:24 pm

I started seeing news of this earlier this afternoon and was hoping that there would be a happier outcome. For me this is a sad way to begin my own winter; for these skiers, their families & friends, this is a terrible tragedy. God bless them all and my thoughts are with them.

I’m filled with thoughts of all these adventurous skiers I’m familiar with (Fransson, Romeo, Coombs…) who have realized such short lives in the mountains. It makes me wonder about the possibility of spending a lifetime skiing in the backcountry, but I’m encouraged by thoughts of guys like Lou and others who have managed to stay alive throughout a life spent in the mountains. I hope I can follow their example.

James September 30, 2014 - 4:42 pm

We lost superwoman Liz Daley as well (yesterday) in Patagonia.

So unbelievably sad.

http://www.chaltenhoy.com.ar/noticia.php?id_nota=2242&id_seccion=1

Lou Dawson 2 September 30, 2014 - 5:31 pm

James, thanks for the heads up on that. We are very bummed here as our whole family knew Liz. Lou

Zach W September 30, 2014 - 6:14 pm

Incredibly sad news. Many, including myself, looked up to Liz, JP, and Andreas as adventurers who lived life passionately.

ptor September 30, 2014 - 11:28 pm

Time to celebrate the lives of some amazing mountain freaks and their transformation back into the Force, send Love and Light to their families and friends…and then take a hard look at the details of the accident scenarios.

aemono October 1, 2014 - 2:56 am

Sad day.

Mark Worley October 1, 2014 - 6:40 am

My condolences to all. It seems like more and more younger folk are being taken in avalanches. It is always hard, young or not.

klaus October 18, 2014 - 1:35 pm

condolences all around – just finished reading Andreas’ beautiful piece on doing the north face of the aguile du midi in may… having spent time there it brought back great memories of great skiing but also really marginal conditions… RIP!!

I have been googling to no avail – wondering if anyone here has any idea if Liz, Andreas, JP were using airbags? what kind?

thanks

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