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The deep and rotated rays resonate in the valley when the dawn is broken on the Mont Blanc massif. It is the sound of controlled avalanche detonations; An unmistakable sign that the ski patrol is in operation, long before the first lifted the buzzing.
In Mont Blanc, as in other parts of the world, ski patrolmen are the first in the mountain and the last to leave. His work goes far beyond responding to injuries; They are responsible for the mitigation of avalanches, climate monitoring, maintenance of the slope and education of skiers on mountain security. In resorts such as Chamonix, where a considerable land outside Piste joins the challenge, his experience can be the difference between a vacation emotion and a potentially deadly situation.
To celebrate today International Ski Patrol Day – An initiative backed by Helly HansenA long -standing partner of ski professionals: I am following Mehdi Valentin, one of Chamonix’s skiing patrols. At 35, he is the head of Pistes in Balme Le Tour, with 10 years of experience.
The work of the ski patrol begins in about the dark. Mehdi and I left in the opening of Le Tour, skiing from top to bottom. The newly arranged tracks extend ahead, their virgin condition as the result of a night operation that involves around 30 snow drawers that work throughout the valley.
The mountain is mysteriously calm. The elevators remain motionless above, and the absence of skiers makes the landscape feel vast. But behind the sensation of remoteness is a precise orchestrated security system. Mehdi stops near a piste score and asks: “Do you know what the orange color is for at the top of these posts?” Despite years of skiing, I admit to having no idea. The orange fire, he explains, serves as a crucial navigation aid, which appears only on the posts on the right side of the slope. Later that day, in blackout conditions, I learn how invaluable the harmless details can be. The morning checks completed, Mehdi Radios to their colleagues that the Le Tour’s ski area is ready to open.
Back in the warmth of the Charamillon Gondola station, Mehdi explains the rigorous training required in France. “You need a five -week diploma to join [ski patrol]. Then specialize: avalanche control, weather observation or avalanche dogs. “He does not stop there; advance through each of the three ranks of the ski patrol demands at least two years of experience at work between each step.
As the day takes shape, Mehdi’s radio is believed in life: a skier has fallen hard in a blue race. Surprisingly, most ski accidents do not happen in steep slopes, with black rating, but in intermediate blue. Mehdi says: “They are more busy, more familiar and less technical, so people lower their guard.
The patrol team of 14 people in Balme Le Tour responds to about eight incidents per day; During a season, they drive about 300 bailouts. Knee injuries represent most hospitalizations, around 75 percent, followed by shoulder problems and, less frequently, head or neck trauma. “Most knee injuries occur when skis crosses, especially in soft snow,” says Mehdi.
Because of serious injuries, patrolmen use vacuum splints to immobilize the limbs before transporting skiers through the mountain in the “blood car”, or sled rescue. Hypothermia is always a concern, so patients are wrapped in insulating blankets for the descent. This season, the team has also introduced Penthrox, an inhalable analgesic that Mehdi describes as a “change of game.”
Avalanches represent the most serious risk. The vast land from Chamonix attracts emotions seekers, but venturing beyond marked races without proper equipment or knowledge can be deadly. Last month, a 55 -year -old skier was killed in a massive avalanche in a closed area of the Montets Resort; Four more skiers lost their lives in a second avalanche not far away.
Survival rates collapse after 15 minutes of burial, but these days patrolmen use avant -garde technology such as roar reflectors, passive transponders commonly integrated in high -end ski clothes, to locate the skiers quickly buried. “Last year, we save a skier in a matter of minutes thanks to Reco,” says Mehdi.
However, despite technological advances, avalanche dogs remain an essential part of the rescue arsenal. I look like Utah, a 10 -month Golden Retriever in training, borders snow during a simulated search exercise. A trained dog can look for 100 square meters in minutes, much faster than human rescuers.
The mountains are changing. The warmer winters mean that ski patrolmen now pass some of their time elimination elevators, something rarely required in the past. But the team has also evolved to make people safer: most skiers now wear helmets, and many out -of -track adventurers carry airbag backpacks and transceptions. However, additional protection can give skiers a trust that denies their skills. “People skiing faster now, chasing records in their smart watches,” says Mehdi. “They have a false sense of security and leads to larger accidents,” which often results in more complicated injuries.
When Mont Blanc’s vaulted peak shines in the last Sun, Mehdi and I embarked on the final scan. It is a slow and deliberate descent, ensuring that no one has stayed on the slopes before snowcats begin their night plow. Spending a day in your world offers a new appreciation for the ski patrol. Millions of skiers open their way through these legendary slopes, without realizing how much effort is dedicated to their protection. So the next time I heard the distant boom of avalanche control at dawn, take a moment to appreciate these mountain guardians.
Fergus Scholes traveled as a guest of Helly Hansen