Andreas Fransson and JP Auclair missing in avalanche

[paj]

Truly horrible news. multiple people dying a single event, 3 deaths total in just a day? Too much.

[Thesystemsplit]

Just watched the new PW flick ... JPs segment made me smile

[Black Ops Valdez]

Sad times in the Mountains. RIP

[LightRanger]

Steve Casimiro wrote this up on AJ: http://www.adventure-journal.com/201...nd-the-living/

Beautiful essay.

[Meadow Skipper]

Steve Casimiro wrote this up on AJ: http://www.adventure-journal.com/201...nd-the-living/

Beautiful essay.

Thanks for the link. I used to read that blog regularly but dropped off for some reason.

[Tye 1on]

Steve Casimiro wrote this up on AJ: http://www.adventure-journal.com/201...nd-the-living/

Beautiful essay.

indeed. For those who don't recognize the name, Steve was the editor of Powder for a bunch of years, a bunch of really deep years as well... His insights, imho, come from a lot of introspection dealing with a lot of losses like these. This quote from the essay really resonated with me, but the whole thing deserves a read:

"We take for granted our time on earth. Even when we don’t, we do. We spend our precious moments on trivialities, on contrivances, and we lose sight that far more precious than our dollars are our minutes."

[hutash]

If Andreas's, JP's or Liz's friends and family stumble across this page, please know that these three inspired us all. And while their loss may seem pointless, their lives were not. We all have lived through their exploits and their memory will continue to live on. Betty D's TR were classic, some of the best here, and JP's jib episode will go down as one of the all time classics. I do not particular like jib pieces, but I have watched that half a dozen time at least, and will watch it countless more. Several of Betty D's TR have been bumped, and I enjoy them as much today, as the first day she posted them, although I also read them with great sadness. Andreas was just a bad ass skier who I knew little of, but understand to be a great person as well.

Peace to family and friends.

[EarlyWood]

so sad
but they weren't

[skajah]

I was stunned when I first read about this on a BBC feed.
I am saddened by this news.

[SterlingSpikeDancer]

What loss their friends and family must feel. Three amazing people who happened to share the same passion for the mountains with us, but who also happened to possess amazing gifts of inspiring through art, through life, and through sharing their talents with all of us mere mortals. Thanks for the inspiration. Thanks for sharing your amazing talents and passion. That these three managed to touch so many that they never even met means that the loss will be felt worldwide in the mountain communities that they frequented. RIP, and enjoy the turns and climbs on the other side.

[TGR420]

Thank you Betty D for your beautiful stories of living your life to the absolute fucking nines. You rocked my world when I saw your first post and now you have rocked my world beyond words.
We will miss you dearly.
"There was a band playing in my head when the sun burst through the sky, thinking about what a friend has said and I was hoping it was a lie."
I hoped What I heard today was a lie, but it was true and I am very sad and will miss you all so much. Nothing more to say than I love you all, even if I did not know that well. You always made me feel at home. We have empty rooms in our house and we will fill them back up for you. You always did that for us.

[-Devin-]

In case this was not already posted. http://xgames.espn.go.com/skiing/art...ier-jp-auclair

[rockcreek]

^^^ I was looking through this this morning. To lose these incredible individuals hurts. I popped in War to watch JP's segment, then to Tempting Fear. As soon as I began this homage to the pioneers of our community, it began nuking snow at my house. You all will be dearly missed.

[NoPostholio]

I have watched this segment dozens of times - amazed at the vision and skill it took to do something like this - it made me remember how I felt when reading about Croft free soloing Astroman. Really sucks that it will be such a sad experience to watch going forward. RIP AF, JPA and LD


http://andreasfransson.blogspot.com/...an-ski_30.html

"When I got to the ramp I got partly amazed, partly intimidated on how the snow was sticking to these ultra steep slopes that I almost felt uncomfortable climbing up. I mean, 60 degrees ice climbing is a peace of cake, but when it’s on powder snow with rock slabs underneath, then it’s getting interesting. So while climbing up this snow ramp on the other side of the world I realized that: this is it – this is the perfect line to ski where all my knowledge from a life in the mountains comes together. This is the steepest and most exposed line I had the chance to ski, and I’m happy leaving it at that and grateful finding something like this in a lifetime. Now it's time to extend my experience in other directions." AF

[Mr brownstone]

Great quote!

[The Duke of Hurl]

Not gone, but gone ahead.


"Your lost friends are not dead, but gone before, advanced a stage or two upon that road which you must travel in the steps they trod." -Aristophanes.

[Wickedbrew4u]

Grew up watching JPs films and magazine shots. Such a great guild style of skiing.

What a great skier who was a true pioneer and visionary. Thoughts go out to the friends and family.

Hope everyone has a safe winter.

[philippeR]

]

[IceCoast070]

Update from Powder
http://www.powder.com/stories/news/j...onfirmed-dead/

UPDATE, October 3, 2014

J.P. Auclair’s brother, Stephane Auclair, and Salomon Sports both released statements this morning regarding the loss of J.P. and Andreas Fransson. Also, Alpine Initiatives, founded by J.P. Auclair, is raising funds to support Auclair’s family—his partner, Ingrid, and son, Leo. To support J.P.’s family, visit the website, AlpineInitiatives.org.

From Stephane Auclair, posted this morning on his Facebook page (translated from the original text, written in French):

Hello all. Here is the news of the day. This was unfortunately another day which the outcome was not one that you wanted… First of all, the helicopter was not available and ready to take off from Perito Moreno (the nearest village of Monte San Lorenzo) early this morning as they had told us. But as the weather was not clement[sic], it has not changed much…

In mid-afternoon, the helicopter was finally able to take off towards the mountain. But when the rescue team arrived on site, they found that it had snowed in the night before, and that other avalanches took place, thus making it impossible to locate the body…

The rescue team will therefore resume its mission tomorrow morning, and a plan B is organized. Continue to think hard about JP, Andreas, and that we can please make the recovery mission a success.

Jean, Ingrid, Jacques, and me will be routed to Argentina next Saturday, and will be on the spot Monday morning, to meet the cameramen, Andreas’ family, and, I hope, to meet JP, and a bit of peace, if everything goes well by then…

In addition to Ingrid Sirois, Jean Auclair, Nadia Lazzari, Jacques, Claire, Geneva, and all our families and friends, I wish to thank especially Rolando Garibotti and Per As, our Italian and Swedish correspondents who gave us the correct time and a clear vision of the workflow, and, despite the fact that they are even more further than we in the South of the Argentina, and that they do so for the sake of their peers and the mountain.

From Salomon:

Salomon Sports is reeling today at the devastating news that a member of the Salomon family has been killed in an avalanche. Freeskier and mountaineer Andreas Fransson and freeskiing legend, JP Auclair, died in South America on Monday afternoon.

Fransson and Auclair were climbing and skiing on Mount San Lorenzo in a remote and mountainous region of Chile when the avalanche happened. While their bodies are unable to be recovered at this time due to the remote and dangerous area where the accident occurred, both skiers have been confirmed as deceased by authorities.

“Andreas held a special place in the Salomon family,” says Bruno Bertrand, Salomon global freeskiing sports marketing manager. “His passion, skill, creativity, and ability to inspire those around him was unmatched. He will be missed dearly.”

Andreas chose to live life with full attention to every moment. His approach to life was his biggest achievement, but he also knew that such a high level of commitment to pursuing his dreams took him to wild and often dangerous places. He approached the mountains meticulously, without ego, and had no problem stepping away from objectives which felt unsafe.

An irreplaceable part of the Salomon Mountain Collective, Andreas played a vital role in the research and development of Salomon’s premiere backcountry and freeskiing products and most recently helped the brand launch into the mountaineering world. Andreas was one of today’s most prominent extreme skiers and climbers, taking the sport of ski mountaineering to the next level. With a solo first descent of the South Face of Denali in spring 2011, Andreas burst onto the scene in a major way. His harrowing descents from Chamonix to Patagonia to Norway and all across Europe showed that his capabilities in the mountains were nearly unrivaled.

Andreas was a well spoken, thoughtful and articulate person who took calculated risks. Although his skiing accomplishments put him in a very exclusive club, he never saw it that way, and would frequently include most anyone in making plans for a fun ski day.

The Salomon family is rallying support around Fransson and Auclair’s teammates, friends and family. We have all been honored to be a part of their lives and want to thank them for being brave enough to chase what made them happy, for sharing their inner and outermost journeys, and for inspiring others to do the same.

[hutash]

Just got an email from Armada skis with a link to JP's memorial fund for those who want to send a few bucks to support his family or his foundation.

October 3, 2014, Costa Mesa, CA

When we first received news that JP Auclair and Andreas Fransson were caught in an avalanche while climbing in Patagonia, we held out hope. We can now speak with certainty about one of the most difficult things to acknowledge - the loss of two incredible human beings. Our thoughts and prayers are with JP and Andreas' families.

The loss of our co-founder, JP, in particular, is overwhelming for us. He had an incredible impact on everything he touched. JP pioneered and transcended skiing genres and left an indelible mark on the sport. He was a philanthropist, entrepreneur, director and filmmaker, photographer, designer, climber, skater, mountain biker, guide, X Games competitor, member of the New Canadian Air Force, and one of the few non-Japanese citizens to be certified at Kendama. JP was our favorite person to be around; he was hilarious and he was kind. Above all, JP was a father, a fiancé, a son, a brother, a godfather, a friend, and genuinely magnificent human.

Many people are asking what they can do to help. JP's family would like to see donations directed to support Léo and Ingrid through the Auclair Fund http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0013t3Hy...zVB8H1sWbKlA== or to the non-profit JP started, Alpine Initiatives http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0013t3Hy...zVB8H1sWbKlA==.

Today, tomorrow and always, JP's legacy will live on. In Ingrid and their son Léo, in skiing, in Alpine Initiatives, in Armada, and in the countless lives that were made better because of him.
Love,


The Armada Family


Share your stories and photos of JP on the tribute page:

http://armadaskis.com/jp-auclair/

[HansJob]

Solomon Freeski just put up a video in tribute, titled "Iceland." Thanks for that.

[M_R]

Just found this video showcasing Andreas and JP, so sad to watch..

[smitchell333]

Have they recovered them yet, or is it not possible in the terrain they're in?

[smitchell333]

To answer my own question - apparently its not possible to get to them in the terrain they were avalanched into.

http://ici.radio-canada.ca/regions/q...ndonnees.shtml

Relatives of Jean -Philippe Auclair returned home without the body of the skier, who died in an avalanche there two weeks. Argentine authorities ended the search, while another team of local mountaineers , who were to help recover the body of Quebecers and the Swede Andreas Fransson , has also left the project because of the danger of shipping .

A text Stephanie FilionTwitterCourriel

Brother and wife of Jean -Philippe Auclair returned Friday to Quebec after spending nearly a week on the trail of skier Patagonia, where he was involved in an avalanche with his friend .

Contacted by CBC 's brother Jean -Philippe , Stephane Auclair , said he and his family had little hope based on the work of the Argentine authorities . "They do not have the expertise " to the search , he argues .

In parallel, so they had organized another expedition with a team of mountain guides and local mountaineers met in the village of Perito Moreno, where they were staying .

Several people had agreed to pay for the research, the sponsors of Auclair and Fransson .

Another bad news came Sunday. "It would be more complicated and more dangerous than they thought ," was told Stéphane Auclair . The team announced it will not eventually would conduct research , at least for now.

[whitekingsalmon]

Wow,,,,what a bummer.sad news for the families.