Mr Braddock (60) had been a freelance guide in Chamonix, France, for about five years, guiding for Wanaka-based Adventure Consultants and other companies as required.
General manager Suze Kelly said yesterday those who knew Mr Braddock were sad to lose a great friend.
‘‘There are many young guides and young ski professionals who were mentored by him.
‘‘He has a big network here in the alpine community.''
The company's owner and chief executive, Guy Cotter, said his friend of more than 30 years had initially trained as an accountant, but decided to change to a career that would let him enjoy a more ‘‘beautiful and dramatic environment''.
‘‘He was a career guide. Some guides stop doing it after a few years, but Russell was a professional right until the end.''Mr Braddock was caught by an avalanche while climbing Mont Blanc du Tacul.
Two other people were also caught up in the avalanche but survived.
The Chaminox News said the avalanche might have been triggered close to the summit by gendarmes from Chamonix on a training mission.
Mr Braddock was originally from New Plymouth.
He started climbing in 1975 and began guiding in 1984.
As well as being credited with several first ascents in New Zealand, he was part of the first New Zealand team to climb the precipitous Cerro Torre in Patagonia, Argentina.
In 2008, the Otago Daily Times reported Mr Braddock was programme co-ordinator for a Wanaka-based Tai Poutini Polytechnic programme designed to train keen skiers and snowboarders as ski patrollers.
The programme had its own ‘‘ski-in, ski-out'' classroom on the slopes of Treble Cone.
Mr Braddock said originally ski patrolling was not seen as ‘‘a real job'' but was becoming a ‘‘viable career'' in a buoyant industry.
In 2005 he was listed as a member of the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council's avalanche education working group.
Mr Braddock is understood to have two adult children, one living in France and one in New Zealand.
