Dossier Chamonix: Mountain Rescue PGHM

MONTAGNE: The 2008 accident in France 3 405 people were evacuated last summer in the French mountains (June to September), a figure below the average of the previous ten years. 113 people have died, 7 are missing. Last year it was the trekking the sport that had more rescues (53%), then the mountain biking (14%), mountaineering (13%) and climbing & canyoning with only 3%. With 65% of deaths of the all mountaineering figures and more than half of the total summer figures in France, the Haute-Savoie is constantly under the spotlight during July / August. Mountain Rescue: The mountain bike is the second highest in demand for rescues, after the hiking. The mountain bike is the third outdoor activity practiced in France. All the ski resorts in France are adapting their lifts and slopes to this summer activity. The idea is to have their own structures to avoid any ‘conflict’ with the trekkers. But of course these excellent conditions to the practice of the mountain biking, according with the rescue professionals, will increase the number of accidents. Our job is to prevent this from happen. Use all the protection gear (helmets, elbow and knee protections) is very important. The MB downhill slopes are most of the time harder and more difficult that the capabilities of most riders. Last summer in France we more than 400 rescues, immediately after the trekking. This numbers must be taken seriously. Last month one person died in Chamonix. In Chamonix this sport is growing more and more every year, but it’s in Flaine and Les Gets (the capital of the MB) that the mountain rescue has more work to do. The good new is that this summer the number of accidents is going down… at last good news!!! Chamonix: PGHM in total alert The PGHM intervened four times Tuesday afternoon. At 13h15, over the Requin Hut, first, to help a person suffering from a fractured ankle. At 15h10, then, for a sprained knee at the stairs. The two persons were taken by helicopter to hospital in Chamonix. At 15h50, the PGHM have assisted two mountain guides clients that were exhausted. Finally, at 17h, two climbers were lost and blocked technically were rescued in the Aiguilles Rouges. Wednesday, the PGHM Chamonix intervened at 10h under the Dome du Gouter at around 4 000m. A party of two climbers from Romania had a fall when they returned to the refuge Gouter (3 800 m). The PGHM also rescued around 10h05, on the Drus, a party of climbers from the Military Academy, one of them was the victim of a fall of stone in the Petit Dru. One of the men was seriously injured with a fractured cervical vertebra. His friend had some wounds on the face. The remaining activity was divided between walkers and climbers, but not very serious. One by the Plan de l’Aiguille and another at the Mount Joly for a man of 70 years old. A climber was blocked on the Grands Montets ridge towards the Aiguille Verte and another was exhausted in the descent of Mont Blanc.