Christophe Henry and Juan Señoret perish on Volcán Puntiagudo in Chile

Extremely sad news comes from Chile where local mountaineer Juan Señoret and France's Christophe Henry have died while skiing Volcán Puntiagudo in the Chilean Andes. Precise details are scarce at the moment, but according to initial reports the two were skiing down mountain's north face on Wednesday morning when they were hit by an avalanche. A third mountaineer was injured but survived. Both Señoret and Henry were absolute reference points for mountaineering and extreme skiing, and the news of their deaths has shaken the mountaineering community to its roots.

Juan Señoret was a very talented mountain guide, widely known as one of the best mountaineers in Chile. He often climbed together with his brother Cristobel, and one of their standout ascents is their new route on Cerro Catedral (2168m) in the Paine massif in Patagonia. Established at the start of 2022, 'Dos Hermanos' is included in the big list of this year's Piolets d'Or. Described by many as an extremely kind and generous person, Juan Señoret leaves a void that will be difficult to fill.

Christophe Henry was a very talented freerider based in Chamonix, an authentic "etoile" of this sport who had left his tracks - extremely fast and always at the limit of what was possible - on the steepest slopes of the Mont Blanc massif before exploring the other mountains across the world. Born in 1984, as a youngster "Tof" quickly made a name for himself for his daring descents, but in addition to his undisputed skill, he was the incarnation of happiness when skiing. Tof was always there in the cable car, beaming away with his infectious smile. The trips up into the mountains will never feel the same again.

Henry and Señoret knew each other well, and they bonded for their mutual love for Patagonia and its wild and authentic mountains. In September 2019 they completed the first ski descent of the breathtakingly beautiful and complex Colmillo Del Diablo; their Psyco Colmillo, described at the time by Henry as "really technical", stands as testament to their immense vision and skill.