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Couloir de Chapeau Chamonix

Another week in Chamonix and more rescue stories to be told.

On Wednesday three hopeful American tourists took the midday lift up to the Aiguille du Midi, without a guide and without the skill set to warrant a ride down the Vallee Blanche, especially in bad weather.

Fortunately they did make it back to Chamonix, nevertheless it was close to 12hrs later and not without the aid of the Chamonix Mountain Rescue team.

Close to 8pm a friend of the three Americans contacted the PGHM (Mountain Resuce Services) to express his concern, he had not heard from them and they had not made it back to the flat. Soon after a helicopter drops a rescue team off at the mid-section of the Valle Blanche, near the ‘Salle a Manger’.

From here the team made their way up 600m using touring skis to find the group sheltering not far from the Requin Refuge.

By torch light the rescue team help the group all the way down making a their way out near the EDF hydro-electric point, which is considered the safest way out when night rescues are performed.

A PGHM member claimed ‘They really were lucky, as they had no real experience whatsoever’

Another rescue took place down the ‘Couloir du Chapeau’ after a brave/foolish skier took to this steep slope only to find himself blocked with fear.

The Couloir du Chapeau comes down to the Mer de Glace and the entry point is over 40 degrees which is where the skier got stuck presumably due to this technique, the skier could not find a way out and was forced to call upon the rescue team to make a helicopter rescue effort.

Source Le Dauphine

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