What if you were skiing with some friends out in the Chamonix backcountry? What if you saw 40 tracks leading into a ski-route you knew was there but perhaps hadn’t skied before? Would you ski it? What if the weather is now starting to deteriorate? What if the route suddenly becomes obscured by avalanche debris and to carry on down means unknown territory.

What if it’s starting to get slightly late in the day? What if you carry on and the terrain goes against you. What if you start having to abseil down some cliffs and it’s starting to feel sketchy? Both weather and darkness are closing in now and suddenly you’re stuck on a tiny ledge above a cliff that’s far too high for your rope.

Who are you gonna call? The PGHM (Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne) of course

+33450536351

put the number in your phone now.

If this sounds like a situation that could just happen, that’s because it did. Although there are a few factual errors in this article from the Haute Savoie Dauphine, it was a very real emergency situation to a group of Chamonix skiers this week.

A Chamonix based musician close to one of the skiers sums up everyone’s heartfealt thanks to the PGHM in this song …..

“With heartfelt thanks to the PGHM for saving my friends.
Apologies to Gary Bigham, John McGrath, Andy Martin and Emmanuel Duffeal.”
TimSki

Here’s something to get everyone in the mood now the snow has arrived….

THIS IS MY WINTER (full movie english) from TimeLine Film on Vimeo.

France

Courchevel, Tignes, Val d’Isère, Val Thorens, Bessans (ski de fond), Les Arcs, Avoriaz (80% open), Chamonix/Grands Montets, Châtel, Flaine, Les Menuires, Méribel, Montriond, Orelle, Peisey-Vallandry, La Plagne, La Tania, Valloire, grand Bornand (Ski de Fond), La Clusaz: Balme, Beauregard and Manigod.

Les Deux Alpes, l’Alpe d’Huez, Chamrousse (subject to conditions), les Sept Laux (decision Thursday)

Puigmal, Serre Chevalier

Spain

Vallter, Val de Nuria

Switzerland

Grimentz, Veysonnaz, Leysin, Verbier, Saas Fee, Zermatt, Les Diablerets – Glacier 3000 CH, Zinal

Austria

The Arlberg: St Anton, Lech, Zürs, Sonnenkopf

During the 2010-2011 season in France there were 29 avalanche fatalities in 19 incidents. On the face of it a fairly typical year. However the overall figures hide a concentration of fatal avalanches in the border region with Italy and in the months of December and March which saw 58% of fatal incidents. Ski touring incidents as well as the seriousness of incidents both continued the recent upward trend.

When searching for multiple beacons you, or your students, may have come across the following problems with the new generation of digital transceivers:

i Search beacon loses mark and leads you back to the previously found beacon

ii. Distance or direction does not change or leads the searcher in the wrong direction

iii. A Beacon is not detected

In the stressful environment of a live rescue or even an exam these kind of problems can lead to a sense of panic, lost time and bad decisions that can ultimately be fatal for the victim(s).

Untitled from James Humes on Vimeo.

A reminder that American avalanche expert and ski instructor Henry Schniewind is once again on the road this autumn with his popular avalanche talks, part of the Ride Hard, Ride Safe series. You can catch up with Henry and the team at the British Ski and Board Show in Birmingham from 28th to 30th October 2011 where he will be giving 30 minute talks in the theater.

Read more on pistehors.com

An Austrian ski tourer has received a three month [suspended] prison sentence for the manslaughter of his wife. The case centered around the use of avalanche beacons. According to the Salzburg court he was touring with his supposedly inexperienced wife with their beacons switched off and in their rucksacks.

Read more on pistehors.com

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