Hikers who died in the Pyrenees: mothers, athletes… what do we know about Juliana and Florence, the two victims?

Juliana and Florence didn't know each other but she shared the same passion for the mountains. On Wednesday, January 1, these two women had the same idea: to go to Pic du Cagire to breathe the fresh air and enjoy the good weather. But these escapades on the snowy slopes turned into tragedy.

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Hikers who died in the Pyrenees: falls, difficult conditions… what we know about these tragic accidents

Juliana, aged around thirty and originally from the Aussonne region, west of Toulouse, was accompanied by two relatives when she lost her balance. The icy snow did not allow her to stop despite wearing crampons and she fell several meters below. “The first fall took place around 8 a.m. The three participants in this hike, from the Toulouse region, were well equipped,” notes Major Abadie of the CRS Montagne. This did not prevent the hiker from sliding almost 300 meters before falling to her death. Aged 34, she leaves behind a little girl aged 5 and her partner, the child's father.

“She loved the mountains”

Juliana was, however, a sporty woman. A former football player, a fan of running and trail running, this Toulouse woman based in Aussonne was “bubbly”, according to those who knew her. “She loved the mountains. Going for a walk as she had planned on Wednesday was pure pleasure,” confides a relative of the victim, upset by this tragedy. Originally from Saint-Etienne, in the Loire, Juliana's body must be repatriated for burial before the end of the week.

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During the second accident, a 46-year-old woman, a mother from Tarn, was walking with her partner when she veered off onto a ridge. Mountain professionals were shocked by the unfolding of events. “It’s a very dangerous area, especially with this snow that has become very hard and therefore impassable. Coming with just a pair of sneakers was a serious mistake,” regrets a specialist.