Two Rescued After Avalanche on Rallarvegen in Ulvik, Norway

Two German tourists were caught in an avalanche on the Vestre Rallarvegen road in Ulvik, Norway, on Friday evening, February 27, 2026. Both individuals were able to free themselves from the snow and were subsequently assisted by emergency services.

Incident Details

The West Police District received a report of the avalanche at 6:48 PM local time. The two individuals, who were skiing in the area, contacted emergency services themselves, reporting they were stuck but uninjured. According to operations leader Ingrid Teigland Tepstad, the avalanche reached up to their knees, but they requested assistance to get out of the area due to the unsettling experience.

Rescue Operation

A rescue operation was quickly launched, involving the Red Cross, the Civil Defense and the police. Four snowmobiles from the Finse Røde Kors were dispatched to the scene, along with an emergency train carrying volunteers, police officers, and Civil Defense personnel. NRK reports that the Civil Defense was returning from an avalanche training exercise when they were able to assist in the rescue.

Successful Rescue and Current Status

By 8:31 PM, both individuals had been located and safely boarded the emergency train. Hf.no confirms that they appeared unharmed, though somewhat anxious after the incident.

Avalanche Risk and Conditions

Authorities had issued warnings about high avalanche risk in the area due to recent heavy snowfall and strong winds. Svein Ove Seim, responsible for rescue teams in Hordaland, noted that these conditions can lead to larger and longer-running avalanches. BA.no reports that the avalanche occurred between Høghellervatnet and Låghellervatnet.

Civil Defense Training

The Hordaland Civil Defense District had been conducting training on the “Finse course” on Friday, practicing avalanche rescue scenarios and casualty transport. This training proved beneficial, as the team was already mobilized and equipped to assist in the real-life rescue operation.