UPDATED 2.38PM Friends are paying tribute to a man who spent 40 years living and breathing the mountains.

Mountain guide Russell Braddock has been named as the man killed in an avalanche in the French Alps yesterday.

Local media suggest the avalanche may have been caused by specialist mountain rescue military police during a training exercise.

CEO of Adventure Consultants, Guy Cotter, where Mr Braddock used to work, said the unfortunate actions of other climbers contributed to his death.

"The accident wasn't due to poor decision making or anything on Russell's part. It was just a very unfortunate accident that occurred because of the pressure of people in the mountains over in the Alps, the number of people who were around, and unfortunately these events can occur."

Mr Cotter said Mr Braddock would have been aware of potential avalanches in the area.

He said Mr Braddock had moved to Chamonix to continue his love of mountain guiding, climbing even on his days off.

Mr Cotter said he'd been involved in mountaineering since 1975 and was one of the most experienced guides in New Zealand.

Fellow mountaineer Dave Bamford climbed with the 60-year-old for the past 30 years, adventuring extensively in both New Zealand and the Himalayas in the 1980s.

He said he was a well-respected mentor.

"He was active with training right throughout the New Zealand mountaineering world, from the New Zealand Alpine Club through to the New Zealand Army. Respected for very hard alpine climbs and rock climbs."

Mr Bamford said he's sad to lose such a close old friend and it's always upsetting when the dark side of the mountain catches up with one of their own.

"You know the sad thing is, the mountains can give us so much pleasure and we all love them but the downside is days like yesterday and today."

He said the community's thoughts are with Mr Braddock's family.