Rescuers were able to save one person who was among the hikers. Authorities have warned that the risk of avalanches in the French Alps remains particularly high over the coming days.
Authorities have warned hikers not to take any risks in the coming daysImage: picture alliance/dpa/MAXPPP/F. Bouton
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Seven people died after avalanches in two separate locations in the French Alpine region of Savoie on Saturday, local authorities said, adding that the risk of another one remained high on Sunday.
Authorities had warned on Friday of the instability of the snowpack due to warmer temperatures.
"Two avalanches caused the death of seven people in the Savoyard massifs, Galibier and Mont Pourri on Saturday," the local prefecture said in a statement.
The first avalanche hit two groups of hikers around noon at the town of Valloire, near the Col du Galibier mountain.
Four of them, between the age of 42 and 76, were killed, the prefecture of Savoie said.
Rescuers launched two helicopters and search dogs to help the victims of the avalanche and managed to save one person who was part of the group.
The second avalanche struck near the almost 3,800-metres-tall Mont Pourri, south of Bourg-Saint-Maurice, killing three people.
Hobby mountaineers attack Mont Blanc
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Risk remains high
In a statement after Saturday's incident, they added that the risk of avalanches remained high in the region.
"The risk of an avalanche will be just as high, due to the warming of temperatures, which follows bad weather over several consecutive days," the prefecture said, adding that 50-70 centimeters of fresh snow covered the fragile layers at an altitude of 2,800 meters.
Avalanches can be triggered naturally or by the simple passage of a skier or a hiker, it said.
"Consequently, the prefect of Savoie, Pascal Bolot strongly recommends that mountain users, whatever their level, avoid taking the slightest risk this Sunday."
At least 35 people have died in avalanches — including the Saturday's victims — since the start of the 2020-21 season, according to the National Association for the Study of Snow and Avalanches (ANENA).
This is more than 12 and 13 people killed in the previous two seasons. The increase in deaths linked to hiking has been attributed to the closure of the ski lifts.
Tour de France: The 10 most memorable moments on Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez is a mountain and a myth on the Tour de France. It's not the race's toughest climb, but it's comfortably the most notorious and popular among fans. On the 30th climb, we look back at some highlights there.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo
1952: Fausto Coppi's solo charge
The mother of all mountain finishes — a 14-kilometer closing climb averaging a gradient of 8 percent — is born because a hotelier wants to promote his ski resort. On the first Alpe d'Huez climb ever, in 1952, Italian Fausto Coppi (l.) left his French rival Jean Robic in his wake; scaling the summit in a solo charge and laying the foundations for his overall victory that year.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo
1976: Joop Zoetemelk claims the mountain
This man helped start a tradition: In 1976, Joop Zoetemelk became the first Dutch rider to win the Alpe d'Huez stage. The Netherlands claimed another seven stage wins that year. Ever since, thousands of Oranje fans make the pilgrimage to Alpe d'Huez whenever it's on the Tour's route, giving the summit a distinct Dutch flavor, including frikandel hot dogs.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
1978: Michel Pollentier's urine swindel
Michel Pollentier (pictured here during the 1982 Tour of Germany) won the 1978 stage, claiming the yellow jersey in the process. But then he was disqualified for failing a doping test; he was found with a container of clean urine.
Image: picture-alliance/Augenklick/Roth
1984: Amateur Luis Herrera defies the pros
He's Colombian cycling's trailblazer. Luis "Lucho" Herrera made waves in European cycling by winning the stage as part of an amateur team in 1984, aged just 23. Only the youngster's woeful performances in the time trials prevented him from securing an impressive overall finish that year. Herrera is on the right of this photo, battling with Pedro Delgado in a 1987 event.
Image: Getty Images/AFP
1986: With friends like these...
Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault cross the line arm-in-arm, a case study in team spirit... Or maybe not! Shortly before this finish-line truce, the pair had been battling hammer and tongs. The older Hinault promised LeMond the year before that he would play a supporting role, but later said he did not recall this, and attacked. LeMond was able to resist and win regardless.
Image: Getty Images/AFP
1997: Marco Pantani sets record time
It's one of those records that might last forever. Marco Pantani (who died in 2004 and was suspected at the time of doping) scales the climb from Bourg d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez in an incredible 37 minutes and 35 seconds. Not even Lance Armstrong would later manage to top that. And nowadays? Thibaut Pinot scaled the summit during his 2015 stage win in 41:11 minutes. A sign of a cleaner sport?
Image: Getty Images/Allsport/M. Powell
1999: Guerini and the clumsy photographer
The world can look different through a camera's viewfinder. This hobby photographer badly misjudged how much time he had to get a shot of Italian Giuseppe Guerini, causing the leader to fall. Nevertheless, Guerini is able to remount and claim the stage.
Image: ASO
2001: Lance Armstrong's brilliant bluff
For the whole stage, Lance Armstrong appeared to be fading fast. The American rode well behind in the peloton, grimacing badly. His German rival Jan Ullrich therefore relaxed, let his teammates ride ahead and lost touch with them. But then, at the start of the grueling climb to Alpe d'Huez, Armstrong magically recovered. He briefly looked his rival in the eyes, then charged away. Checkmate.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/E. Gans
2008: Carlos Sastre's climb to yellow
A tactical error or a schism within the team? Luxembourg's Fränk Schleck is in yellow at the base of the Alpe d'Huez climb. At that point, his Spanish teammate Carlos Sastre attacked. It looked like team tactics: a dummy attack designed to tempt and stretch the competition. But in the end, Sastre kept pushing to the summit, claiming the yellow jersey too. He would go on to win the Tour itself.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/I. Langsdon
2013: Chris Froome wobbles, at last
His critics begrudgingly call him the "robot" or the "metronome." Chris Froome is so dominant and consistent, seemingly never faltering. But in 2013, it was the Alpe d'Huez that revealed at least a chink in his armor. Froome hits a glucose low (a "bonk") and starts vehemently calling for help. The team car can't reach him, but teammate Richie Porte (r.) lends a hand with the damage limitation.
