A 25 year old Lithuanian man named Andrius Glozeckas seems to have become the first death on the Vallée Blanche this season on Friday January 11th. Le Dauphiné Libéré reported that the man, dressed only in jeans and a light leather jacket and carrying no mountaineering gear, he was last seen alive by two Swedes heading into a very crevasse-ridden section of the Vallée Blanche route near the Petite Envers du Plan. There is a discussion of this incident in English on Piste-Hors.com as well (see blogroll). Statistically men in their 20s do seem to die at a higher rate in the mountains – from avalanches to stunts like this, they seem to be oblivious to their own mortality at this age. I guess that is why in many places auto insurance rates are also higher for this age group and sex.
The Dauphiné reported in the longer print article that two people at least did in fact try to disuade the man from continuing – firstly the people who he rented his skis from told him it was dangerous to do by himself and at least convinced him to rent a harness and crampons and at the top of the lift, when he asked ‘Ou est la piste?’ (there is none, it is a pure high mountain off piste route) the incredulous lift personnel also tried to tell him to turn around and go back. However the man insisted on being told ‘the route’ and after giving him directions toward the easiest tourist route down, the lifty reportedly saw the man heading in the opposite direction towards the much steeper Petite Envers, doing beginner-style awkward turns. People from his rental lodgings gave alert that he’d not returned. The weather was too poor for the PGHM to search for him until Sunday, and he is presumed dead as he was not adequately equipped to survive even one night at that altitude.
Every year this route sees deaths – usually from similar circumstances of people attempting this route alone and/or poorly-equipped and with no clue where they are going, no avalanche beacon and certainly no mountain experience, training or mountain guide.
January 25, 2008 at 2:16 |
Hi there, this guy name is Andrius Glozecas. He is 25 years old settled and living in london and mine best friend. He lived his life in a very fast pace. He had no fear and I am glad he lost his life in an adventurous way. Possibly the best death he can have. He was dreaming of this run from years and I was suppose to go with him. But obviously he went towards the dangerous route which may be he didn’t intend to.
Anyway we friends and family are shock from this tragic incident. And praying still for that little mercy from god towards our Andrius. And he will be found alive and safe.
Thanks for your article.
Bikke
January 26, 2008 at 0:45 |
I am sorry for your loss.
January 29, 2008 at 22:32 |
Probably you already know that the body of Andrius is already found. He is not alive as we wished he would be..but he will always remain alive in our memories while being so different and interesting..
March 8, 2008 at 2:45 |
[...] about the more often seen cases of people getting into trouble or being killed on the route such as the first death on the route this season ), I would blame the tourist information that gets reported in papers and websites such as this [...]
June 19, 2009 at 18:06 |
very sad