The mountains provide a spectacular playground for skiers, climbers, mountaineers, yet their beauty can also be deadly. High mountain terrain can be subject to extreme weather conditions, rock falls and avalanches. You should always take note of safety warnings and we always recommend you hire a mountain guide when heading into high mountain terrain. Be aware and be safe!
An avalanche is a fascinating and naturally occuring phenomenon that is caused by unstable snow conditions. Since it is practically impossible to predict where and when the next avalanche will occur, significant amounts of information such as weather forecasts and avalanche forecasts are provided for the winter sports enthusiasts to aid their understanding of avalanche dangers and potentially prevent one from occuring.
The following avalanche information is not to be accepted as a set of instructions, it is designed merely provide guidance for those who wish to go off piste, and facilitate informed decision-making. It is also worth noting that avalanches are not the only dangers of off-piste: natural obstacles such as crevasses, buried rocks or cliffs are also potential hazards. It is highly recommended that you take a mountain guide whilst venturing into unknown territory. ... more
Mountain Rescue within the Chamonix Valley
In and around the Mont Blanc massif, mountain rescue operations are carried out by the Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute-Montagne (PGHM) of Chamonix. This unit is supported by the Compagnie des Guides, the Ecole Nationale de Ski et d’Alpinisme and the Ecole Militaire de Haute-Montagne and they have a number of helicopters based in resort all year round. Useful telephone numbers
Company
Telephone Number
Weather in English Tourist Office Compagnie des Guides Maison de la Montagne Reserve des Aiguilles Rouges Mountain Rescue (PGHM) Hospital Pompiers International Rescue
Winter safety video produced by La Chamoniarde - the Chamonix High Mountain Office. The video highlights some of the dangers met in the mountains and what to watch out for.
Filmed during the winter 2009 on the famous Vallée Blanche, this video shows the basic principles of skiing on glaciers in terms of crevasse spotting and group management.
Directed and produced by Courchevel based ski instructor Simon Christy, the film also features Simon Abrahams, and is narrated by Miles Bright who authored a book on glacier safety and rescue for skiers and boarders.
The film team also had technical input from Kath Murphy.
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