On September 29, French freerider Juliette Willmann died in an avalanche in the El Chaltén area of Argentine Patagonia while skiing with her partner, Pierre-Idris Mehdi, a high mountain guide from Chamonix. According to initial reports from the local media outlet lugaresdenieve.com, the avalanche occurred on Cerro Crestón, and Willmann was found under 1.5 meters of snow. Resuscitation attempts did not save her, while her partner was rescued and evacuated. The French Ski Federation confirmed her death on Wednesday. Willmann, who was 29 years old, had previously competed in the Freeride World Tour circuit, joining in 2019 and participating until 2022. She was the daughter of Philippe Willmann, a former coach for the French women's alpine skiing team, and the sister of Alison Willmann, a former member of the French national teams. She had described her time in the Freeride World Tour as "a beautiful challenge" and "one of the most beautiful experiences of my life." After 2022, she shifted focus to high mountain freeriding and participated in the film Rise, which documented her adventures in the mountains. According to one report, the couple was "carried approximately 400 meters" in a difficult-to-reach area, possibly due to a "rupture of plates in the snowpack." Another source noted that the avalanche occurred in the Andes mountain range near Lake del Desierto. Pierre-Idris Mehdi was reportedly injured and evacuated to a hospital. Olivier Greber, president of the Chamonix guides company, confirmed that Willmann was a professional skier and that her partner, who had been guiding in Chamonix for two years, was "very affected" by the incident. One report suggested they were newlyweds, while another noted that the trip took place in mid-August. The incident highlights the risks involved in high-altitude freeriding, where unpredictable weather and terrain can lead to sudden and dangerous situations. The local community and the broader skiing world have expressed shock and sadness at the loss of a talented and experienced athlete.