Avalanche

Avalanche-related fatalities are of special interest to MSC, given one of our key prevention tools is the NZ Avalanche Advisory. Unlike the other activities we monitor, here we have included both recreational and commercial fatalities. This provides us with a more holistic view of the avalanche phenomenon, which spans several different land-based activity types.

Avalanche fatalities over the last 10 years have involved mountaineers, backcountry skiers/snowboarders and trampers.

Instead of presenting counts by financial year, we use the calendar year to keep the winter period within the same annual timeframe.

The 5-year average is 0.6 fatalities per year, and the 10-year average is 0.8. 

Mountaineers have accounted for 70% of fatalities since 1999 (21 of the 30). This is unlike anywhere else in the world, where most avalanche fatalities include other backcountry users such as skiers and snowboarders. Interestingly, 76% of these 21 mountaineering fatalities (16) occured during the spring and summer months, which is also unlike many other parts of the world where most avalanche fatalities occur through winter.