The risk of avalanches remains high in the Pyrenees after the extraordinary snowfalls of recent weeks. In the western extreme, the ICGC reports a ‘marked’ level (3/5) at least until this Friday afternoon. This level affects several snowy areas such as Aran-Franja Nord de la Pallaresa, Ribagorçana-Vall Fosca, and Pallaresa.
With level 3, the agency advises “to be very cautious when looking for safe routes” and “to be conservative in decision-making” outside ski resorts and controlled areas. Furthermore, the degree of danger must be checked daily, as the assessment is updated every day.
“"Three out of five is the typical level where accidents occur. With danger levels 4 and 5 (strong and very strong), people rarely go out into the mountains, but with the lower danger level, ‘marked’ or 3, we actually have a snowpack sensitive enough that we can trigger these avalanches with our passage."
Technician Santi Manguant explains that this is proving to be a highly active avalanche season, both due to natural activity and accidental avalanches triggered by people. This context is due to wind slabs formed by snowfall episodes and wind transport, which can be invisible on the surface.
Regarding the Eastern Pyrenees (including Perafita-Puigpedrós and the northern slope of Cadí-Moixeró), the danger has dropped to moderate (2/5), although above 2,200-2,300 meters it remains marked (3) in almost all sectors. The ICGC reminds the public of the importance of always carrying safety equipment and consulting the Avalanche Danger Bulletin.
