Glacier collapse in Swiss village: Before-and-after images go viral
On Wednesday, dramatic footage of a catastrophic glacier collapse surfaced on social media that buried nearly 90 per cent of Blatten, a small Alpine village with a population of 300. Click to see the before-and-after pictures.
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The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Family guide to snow season 2025: how to save money and keep your clothes toasty
A love of the Australian ski season could be 'exxy' but finding accommodation with a kitchen, parking in nearby villages, becoming a member of an Alpine club and loading up with groceries before a trip could save families a small fortune. Mum Sue Hopkin travels with her husband and two kids to Falls Creek each year to ski. Membership was a game-changer. "That basically changed our whole perspective on coming to the snow. "It's hard to get accommodation when you want it, at an affordable price," she said. "So becoming members made life so much easier because we always had accommodation, even though it's hard to get into during the season, but as a result of that, we have become part of an amazing community at Falls Creek." Ms Hopkin said there were some great restaurants, walking activities and fireworks every Thursday, which was always a thrill. Meanwhile, Canadian-born Dru Dundon grew up with a love for skiing so she was determined to give her son Angus a similar experience. "When you've grown up skiing, there's nothing better than introducing your children to the sport and seeing the smiles on their faces as they discover the thrill of skiing for themselves," she said. In August 2022, she and her son, as well as another family, set off from Adelaide to Thredbo. She admits it wasn't a cheap holiday, particularly as a single mother. "There is a big outlay," she said. "From fuel, accommodation, national park passes, lift passes and lessons to appropriate ski gear and clothing (that is only worn for one week a year and then they grow out of it!), the costs add up." But it was worth it. The two families stayed in a chalet in the Friday Flat area. During the week, the kids went to ski school. "This meant they were learning from trained instructors in a fun, age-appropriate environment," she said. "It also meant the adults could enjoy themselves without worrying about keeping everyone safe and teaching the right skiing techniques. "I was jealous when, at the end of day 2, my son was already mastering small jumps and skiing backwards down the hill!" Angus is already begging his mother to come back, and Ms Dundon is off to Japan this year. "We plan to alternate cheaper holidays, such as camping, with snow trips," she said. Selecting the right accommodation is important for a good snow experience, Ms Dundon said. "At the end of a long day of skiing, being in walking distance to our accommodation was a god-send and meant we didn't have to worry about driving in the snow for the whole time we were there." Parking was also limited at Thredbo, so staying in the nearby Friday Flat area meant they didn't have to find a park each day. Food could be expensive, so she recommends choosing accommodation with a kitchen. "Our chalet had a full-sized kitchen and coffee machine, so we ate breakfast there each morning and the adults took turns cooking easy evening meals," she said. And do a grocery shop beforehand. "There is a small grocery store in Thredbo Village for emergencies, but the range is limited, so you wouldn't want to do a full shop there," she said. "We'd go back to the chalet at lunchtime and make toasted sandwiches for lunch, which saved money, and we avoided the lunchtime rush in the on-mountain restaurants. "We did have lunch at Eagles Nest one day - Australia's highest restaurant, with great views of the mountain and good, hearty meals. "It was very busy, so be prepared to wait for a seat." Conditions are generally quite mild at Australian resorts, so you don't need layers and layers of clothing, she said. "Merino wool thermals and a good water-proof jacket and pants should be enough to keep [kids] warm. "Don't forget to put all of your gear in the warming cupboard each night, so it dries and is toasty warm for the morning," Ms Dundon said. A love of the Australian ski season could be 'exxy' but finding accommodation with a kitchen, parking in nearby villages, becoming a member of an Alpine club and loading up with groceries before a trip could save families a small fortune. Mum Sue Hopkin travels with her husband and two kids to Falls Creek each year to ski. Membership was a game-changer. "That basically changed our whole perspective on coming to the snow. "It's hard to get accommodation when you want it, at an affordable price," she said. "So becoming members made life so much easier because we always had accommodation, even though it's hard to get into during the season, but as a result of that, we have become part of an amazing community at Falls Creek." Ms Hopkin said there were some great restaurants, walking activities and fireworks every Thursday, which was always a thrill. Meanwhile, Canadian-born Dru Dundon grew up with a love for skiing so she was determined to give her son Angus a similar experience. "When you've grown up skiing, there's nothing better than introducing your children to the sport and seeing the smiles on their faces as they discover the thrill of skiing for themselves," she said. In August 2022, she and her son, as well as another family, set off from Adelaide to Thredbo. She admits it wasn't a cheap holiday, particularly as a single mother. "There is a big outlay," she said. "From fuel, accommodation, national park passes, lift passes and lessons to appropriate ski gear and clothing (that is only worn for one week a year and then they grow out of it!), the costs add up." But it was worth it. The two families stayed in a chalet in the Friday Flat area. During the week, the kids went to ski school. "This meant they were learning from trained instructors in a fun, age-appropriate environment," she said. "It also meant the adults could enjoy themselves without worrying about keeping everyone safe and teaching the right skiing techniques. "I was jealous when, at the end of day 2, my son was already mastering small jumps and skiing backwards down the hill!" Angus is already begging his mother to come back, and Ms Dundon is off to Japan this year. "We plan to alternate cheaper holidays, such as camping, with snow trips," she said. Selecting the right accommodation is important for a good snow experience, Ms Dundon said. "At the end of a long day of skiing, being in walking distance to our accommodation was a god-send and meant we didn't have to worry about driving in the snow for the whole time we were there." Parking was also limited at Thredbo, so staying in the nearby Friday Flat area meant they didn't have to find a park each day. Food could be expensive, so she recommends choosing accommodation with a kitchen. "Our chalet had a full-sized kitchen and coffee machine, so we ate breakfast there each morning and the adults took turns cooking easy evening meals," she said. And do a grocery shop beforehand. "There is a small grocery store in Thredbo Village for emergencies, but the range is limited, so you wouldn't want to do a full shop there," she said. "We'd go back to the chalet at lunchtime and make toasted sandwiches for lunch, which saved money, and we avoided the lunchtime rush in the on-mountain restaurants. "We did have lunch at Eagles Nest one day - Australia's highest restaurant, with great views of the mountain and good, hearty meals. "It was very busy, so be prepared to wait for a seat." Conditions are generally quite mild at Australian resorts, so you don't need layers and layers of clothing, she said. "Merino wool thermals and a good water-proof jacket and pants should be enough to keep [kids] warm. "Don't forget to put all of your gear in the warming cupboard each night, so it dries and is toasty warm for the morning," Ms Dundon said. A love of the Australian ski season could be 'exxy' but finding accommodation with a kitchen, parking in nearby villages, becoming a member of an Alpine club and loading up with groceries before a trip could save families a small fortune. Mum Sue Hopkin travels with her husband and two kids to Falls Creek each year to ski. Membership was a game-changer. "That basically changed our whole perspective on coming to the snow. "It's hard to get accommodation when you want it, at an affordable price," she said. "So becoming members made life so much easier because we always had accommodation, even though it's hard to get into during the season, but as a result of that, we have become part of an amazing community at Falls Creek." Ms Hopkin said there were some great restaurants, walking activities and fireworks every Thursday, which was always a thrill. Meanwhile, Canadian-born Dru Dundon grew up with a love for skiing so she was determined to give her son Angus a similar experience. "When you've grown up skiing, there's nothing better than introducing your children to the sport and seeing the smiles on their faces as they discover the thrill of skiing for themselves," she said. In August 2022, she and her son, as well as another family, set off from Adelaide to Thredbo. She admits it wasn't a cheap holiday, particularly as a single mother. "There is a big outlay," she said. "From fuel, accommodation, national park passes, lift passes and lessons to appropriate ski gear and clothing (that is only worn for one week a year and then they grow out of it!), the costs add up." But it was worth it. The two families stayed in a chalet in the Friday Flat area. During the week, the kids went to ski school. "This meant they were learning from trained instructors in a fun, age-appropriate environment," she said. "It also meant the adults could enjoy themselves without worrying about keeping everyone safe and teaching the right skiing techniques. "I was jealous when, at the end of day 2, my son was already mastering small jumps and skiing backwards down the hill!" Angus is already begging his mother to come back, and Ms Dundon is off to Japan this year. "We plan to alternate cheaper holidays, such as camping, with snow trips," she said. Selecting the right accommodation is important for a good snow experience, Ms Dundon said. "At the end of a long day of skiing, being in walking distance to our accommodation was a god-send and meant we didn't have to worry about driving in the snow for the whole time we were there." Parking was also limited at Thredbo, so staying in the nearby Friday Flat area meant they didn't have to find a park each day. Food could be expensive, so she recommends choosing accommodation with a kitchen. "Our chalet had a full-sized kitchen and coffee machine, so we ate breakfast there each morning and the adults took turns cooking easy evening meals," she said. And do a grocery shop beforehand. "There is a small grocery store in Thredbo Village for emergencies, but the range is limited, so you wouldn't want to do a full shop there," she said. "We'd go back to the chalet at lunchtime and make toasted sandwiches for lunch, which saved money, and we avoided the lunchtime rush in the on-mountain restaurants. "We did have lunch at Eagles Nest one day - Australia's highest restaurant, with great views of the mountain and good, hearty meals. "It was very busy, so be prepared to wait for a seat." Conditions are generally quite mild at Australian resorts, so you don't need layers and layers of clothing, she said. "Merino wool thermals and a good water-proof jacket and pants should be enough to keep [kids] warm. "Don't forget to put all of your gear in the warming cupboard each night, so it dries and is toasty warm for the morning," Ms Dundon said. A love of the Australian ski season could be 'exxy' but finding accommodation with a kitchen, parking in nearby villages, becoming a member of an Alpine club and loading up with groceries before a trip could save families a small fortune. Mum Sue Hopkin travels with her husband and two kids to Falls Creek each year to ski. Membership was a game-changer. "That basically changed our whole perspective on coming to the snow. "It's hard to get accommodation when you want it, at an affordable price," she said. "So becoming members made life so much easier because we always had accommodation, even though it's hard to get into during the season, but as a result of that, we have become part of an amazing community at Falls Creek." Ms Hopkin said there were some great restaurants, walking activities and fireworks every Thursday, which was always a thrill. Meanwhile, Canadian-born Dru Dundon grew up with a love for skiing so she was determined to give her son Angus a similar experience. "When you've grown up skiing, there's nothing better than introducing your children to the sport and seeing the smiles on their faces as they discover the thrill of skiing for themselves," she said. In August 2022, she and her son, as well as another family, set off from Adelaide to Thredbo. She admits it wasn't a cheap holiday, particularly as a single mother. "There is a big outlay," she said. "From fuel, accommodation, national park passes, lift passes and lessons to appropriate ski gear and clothing (that is only worn for one week a year and then they grow out of it!), the costs add up." But it was worth it. The two families stayed in a chalet in the Friday Flat area. During the week, the kids went to ski school. "This meant they were learning from trained instructors in a fun, age-appropriate environment," she said. "It also meant the adults could enjoy themselves without worrying about keeping everyone safe and teaching the right skiing techniques. "I was jealous when, at the end of day 2, my son was already mastering small jumps and skiing backwards down the hill!" Angus is already begging his mother to come back, and Ms Dundon is off to Japan this year. "We plan to alternate cheaper holidays, such as camping, with snow trips," she said. Selecting the right accommodation is important for a good snow experience, Ms Dundon said. "At the end of a long day of skiing, being in walking distance to our accommodation was a god-send and meant we didn't have to worry about driving in the snow for the whole time we were there." Parking was also limited at Thredbo, so staying in the nearby Friday Flat area meant they didn't have to find a park each day. Food could be expensive, so she recommends choosing accommodation with a kitchen. "Our chalet had a full-sized kitchen and coffee machine, so we ate breakfast there each morning and the adults took turns cooking easy evening meals," she said. And do a grocery shop beforehand. "There is a small grocery store in Thredbo Village for emergencies, but the range is limited, so you wouldn't want to do a full shop there," she said. "We'd go back to the chalet at lunchtime and make toasted sandwiches for lunch, which saved money, and we avoided the lunchtime rush in the on-mountain restaurants. "We did have lunch at Eagles Nest one day - Australia's highest restaurant, with great views of the mountain and good, hearty meals. "It was very busy, so be prepared to wait for a seat." Conditions are generally quite mild at Australian resorts, so you don't need layers and layers of clothing, she said. "Merino wool thermals and a good water-proof jacket and pants should be enough to keep [kids] warm. "Don't forget to put all of your gear in the warming cupboard each night, so it dries and is toasty warm for the morning," Ms Dundon said.
LeMonde
8 hours ago
- LeMonde
In Switzerland, after a glacier collapsed onto Blatten, fear is gripping the mountains
On the still-snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps, the first warm days signaled the start of the snowmelt season, with vibrant spring wildflowers and lush green pastures where cows frolicked . But the idyllic picture ended lower down. The valley floor had been replaced by a monstrous, brown mass: 10 million cubic meters of crushed ice, rock and mud compacted together. The sublime had turned to sinister in a single glance. It all began in mid-May, when a peak called the Petit Nesthorn came under close watch after worrisome movements on its northern face triggered an initial alert. Debris began falling, piling up on the glacier just below, prompting the evacuation of residents and livestock − "as a pure precaution," according to local authorities − while waiting for the mountain to settle. "We will be able to return very soon," said Matthias Bellwald, the mayor of the 300-resident municipality. But "the unthinkable," as people now call it here, has ultimately shattered that easy confidence. It took less than 40 seconds for the Birch Glacier, at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, May 28, to bring an end to the 592 years of existence of the village of Blatten, known as much for the geraniums in the windows of its centuries-old larch chalets as for its resistance to mass tourism. In the Swiss Alpine imagination, already rich with legends, this Lötschental valley (in the canton of Valais, southern Switzerland) occupied a special place − a sort of original, Edenic sanctuary. Now, it holds a far darker distinction: It is the first to surrender a village to the combined forces of geology and a rapidly warming planet.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Supreme Court Lets Finra Case Proceed in Test of Wall Street's Self Regulation
(Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court let the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority proceed with disciplinary proceedings against a brokerage accused of stealing from customers in a case testing Wall Street's longstanding reliance on self-regulatory organizations. Billionaire Steve Cohen Wants NY to Expand Taxpayer-Backed Ferry Where the Wild Children's Museums Are The Economic Benefits of Paying Workers to Move Now With Colorful Blocks, Tirana's Pyramid Represents a Changing Albania At London's New Design Museum, Visitors Get Hands-On Access The justices without comment turned away an appeal from Alpine Securities Corp., which argued that a lower court didn't go far enough when it blocked Finra from expelling the brokerage until the Securities and Exchange Commission weighs in. Alpine said the federal appeals court should have stopped proceedings altogether while the legal fight goes forward. The rebuff is a win for Finra on one aspect of a broader fight that threatens to undercut the authority of self-regulatory organizations. Alpine is pressing multiple arguments that Finra's powers and structure are unconstitutional. The rejection follows Chief Justice John Roberts's decision in March not to immediately halt the Finra proceedings against Alpine while the Supreme Court weighed how to handle the case. In partially siding with Alpine, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit said the Constitution probably prohibits Finra from unilaterally expelling a brokerage. The decision, which invoked the so-called private non-delegation doctrine, called into question Finra's ability to oust members through expedited proceedings that bypass the SEC. At the Supreme Court, Alpine said that conclusion should have prompted the DC Circuit to suspend Finra's disciplinary action. Alpine said being forced to defend against Finra charges — even if the decision is ultimately overturned — constitutes a 'here-and-now injury' that Supreme Court precedent requires judges to prevent. Finra, backed by the Trump administration, urged the Supreme Court not to intervene. Finra said it is 'commonplace for parties to endure a proceeding even when it might be overturned on appeal.' Finra accuses Alpine of stealing more than $54 million from its clients through excessive fees and the unauthorized conversion of customer securities and then violating a cease-and-desist order more than 35,000 times. Alpine denies the allegations. The US financial markets are overseen by a number of self-regulatory organizations, including stock exchanges and clearinghouses. The case is Alpine Securities v. Finra, 24-904. YouTube Is Swallowing TV Whole, and It's Coming for the Sitcom Millions of Americans Are Obsessed With This Japanese Barbecue Sauce Mark Zuckerberg Loves MAGA Now. Will MAGA Ever Love Him Back? Will Small Business Owners Knock Down Trump's Mighty Tariffs? Trump Considers Deporting Migrants to Rwanda After the UK Decides Not To ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
