An experienced skier survived being swept down a mountain by an avalanche; his dog was also unharmed.
On 14 Jan 2026, a video went viral on social media showing Ares Masip, a Spanish skier familiar with the area, skiing accompanied by his dog.
The location was Mount de l'Hortell in Andorra, where an avalanche swept both him and his dog down the mountain. Fortunately, the incident was not severe, and both the man and his pet remained safe.
Masip posted the video along with a message saying
08/01/2026
Today I encountered an avalanche (near Cim de l’Hortell in Andorra, on the northeast slope at about 2,400 meters). I’m sharing this video simply to explain what happened.
This is a place I know well. I’ve skied here 7–8 times this season, including 5 times in the past few days. Today was the third summit I reached. The BPA report indicated a risk level of 1–2, with fresh signs from today itself, on a steep slope crossed by a tree line.
This morning I woke up feeling unwell, with a headache and overcast skies. The snow was deep, and I didn’t feel like doing anything long or complicated, so I decided to do a short circuit for rest on the summit before heading home.
Considering all factors, I thought it was safe, but this is what’s called a “heuristic trap” (I didn’t know this concept before; thanks to @lorelei_th for the explanation!). It’s a cognitive bias that makes us oversimplify reality and overestimate safety, even though risks remain: familiarity, expected low risk, recent repetition, modest goals...
It’s not that the environment was truly safe, but rather it “appeared” safe.
But it’s important to always remember that zero risk… does not exist.
Today ended with a shock but was a valuable personal lesson. If it helps anyone avoid lowering their guard in familiar places, then it’s worth it.
The video on her personal Instagram has over 1 million likes. Fans expressed concern for both her and the dog, fearing for their safety.