Henry's Avalanche Talk, Avalanche awareness, Off piste skiing, snow reports, snow conditions, Val d'Isere, Tignes

Is It Safe Out There!? Talk for ICE - BASI advanced level 2 in Tignes

The middle of July may not seem like the most obvious time to be talking about how to 'Ride Hard & Ride Safe' off piste, but up in Tignes Henry had a small but keen audience with the ICE instructor training course who are up training there now. The course is being held up on the Grand Motte Glacier and led by no-nonsene coach Rupert G (third in from the left looking bad in his Arc'teryx cap).  

A summary of the points from the talk are here below. Good luck with the rest of the course guys!

IS IT SAFE OUT THERE ?

It depends on

WHERE YOU GO & WHEN

slope angles

- over or under 25°? look above you!

- slope orientation (North'ish)

snow stability

-avalanche forecast

- ask locals

- recent activity, woomphing, cracking

-wind loading

HOW YOU GO DOWN (OR UP)

-one at a time (or distances), keep tracks close

-stop at islands of safety

-ridges (not exposed but possible trigger points)

-convexities

-terrain traps

-look below, don’t trigger on other people!

-escape route

HOW WELL PREPARED YOU ARE

- start thinking early

- talk with the people you’re going out with

- keep the ‘human factor’ in check

- know your equipment and how it works

HAT’s Off-Piste & Off-Season series: Travel Insurance Policies: Small Print, Big Risks

In HAT’s Off-Piste & Off-Season Safety Series you’ll find tips on how to ‘Have Fun, Be Safe’ no matter what you’re up to this summer.

 

 

Travel Insurance Policies: Small Print, Big Risks

Travel Insurance is something many of us have in preparation for a winter or summer holiday, but do we really understand what we’re covered for? And more importantly what we’re not covered for? Not reading the small print can be costly, adding insult to your injuries.  

 

Rescues that happen Off-Piste in the winter are often not covered by standard insurance policies, leading to hefty bills for individuals injured in the powder. Even more sobering is that someone injured on the nursery slopes will often not be covered if they have had as much as a shandy at lunchtime.

 

Having adequate insurance cover is something Claire Bouteille, the British Consul based in Lyon, is passionate about. The British Consulate ran a poster campaign during the winter which highlights the risks faced during so called 'dangerous' sports like skiing. HAT has been working closely with the consulate on this campaign and its themes - one of which is making people aware of the fact that they need to think clearly about their travel insurance otherwise they could find themselves hurt and poor! See the poster here from that campaign.

 

 

As we all pack for our beach holidays, are you adequately covered for your summer adventures?  

 

We have Top Tips from Val d'Isère's resident Doctor, Alan Griffiths, on how to choose appropriate insurance for your holiday. These tips were originally published for the winter seasonnaire community in Val d’Isère but the principles can be applied to all kinds of holidays, including the one YOU are taking this summer.

 

An advertisement for a bank recently asked the question: Could your bank account withstand a broken leg in Val d’Isère ? It’s a valid question. Here Dr Alan Griffiths from the English Medical Centre gives the low-down on insurance should you injure yourself here.

Statistics show that 3 out of every 1000 skiers will injure themselves each day. The rate is about 50% higher for boarders, and once you start jumping in the snowpark it gets even worse. Nobody likes to think that they will be the one to get injured, but several times a day it does happen to somebody. A basic piste rescue costs anything from a couple of hundred Euros to several thousand Euros if a helicopter is involved. So it’s vital that you have good insurance cover should the worst come to the worst.

EHIC

The free European Health Insurance Card is NOT the same as a proper insurance policy. It just entitles European citizens to the same state cover that a French person would enjoy. In practice this means you are entitled to 65% reimbursement of your public health costs. You still have to fork out at the medical centre or pharmacy and then it’s up to you to claim your money back from the French social security system. Not very good for cash flow! More importantly, it does not cover any piste rescue costs, nor the cost of repatriation.

VIE VAL D’IS CARD

This provides seasonnaires with unlimited cover for piste and off-piste rescue as well as hospital and pharmacy costs up to 3000€ relating to snowsports injuries. It does not cover you for visits to the resort’s medical centres. It only costs 18€ for the season and also entitles you to discounts at various shops and restaurants around town, with 15% off at the supermarket.

CARTE NEIGE

This costs 50€ for the season and covers you for piste rescue, even if you are off-piste without a guide. If you take out option B for another 10€ it also includes snowsports cover for medical centre and pharmacy bills, as well as hospital bills. But beware, the maximum amount for medical costs is only 3000€. It is great for piste rescues as you just show the card and you don’t have to pay. You will still have to hand over your hard earned dosh at the medical centre and pharmacy, and then you have to claim it back from the Carte Neige people after submitting an EHIC claim if you are a European citizen : quite a convoluted process. The same cover can be bought on a daily basis with the Carré Neige liftpass insurance.

PROPER INSURANCE

For full peace of mind you cannot beat proper travel insurance policies. Unlike the Vie Val D’is card and Carte Neige, they have the advantage of providing cover for accidents that occur off the slopes (such as slipping over in the street and breaking your leg, ankle, wrist, coccyx…). They needn’t be expensive, and if you shop around you can get insurance for the season for as little as 200€. Always check how much the excess is (that’s the first part of a claim that you have to pay out of your own pocket). The cheaper policies tend to have higher excesses, and you may find that you have to pay the first 250€ of the claim yourself.

As everyone knows, insurance companies are renowned for not paying out if they don’t have to. So it is essential to CHECK THE SMALL PRINT. If you are planning to ski off-piste without a qualified guide, make sure you have cover for this.

At the end of the day, you cannot be over insured. So if there is any doubt about what you are covered for, you could combine a proper insurance policy with the free EHIC as well as either a Vie Val D’is card or a Carte Neige. Remember, it could be you coming down in the blood wagon this season!

Have you had a nightmare experience with insurance or found out you’ve not been covered for a rescue on or Off-Piste? Tell us about it via the ‘comment’ box below. Your experiences may help your fellow Off-Piste adventure lovers to avoid a similar situation….

Read the full article on The Mountain Echo website http://www.themountainecho.co.uk/features/are-you-sure-youre-well-insured/

HAT’s Off-Piste & Off-Season series: Looking after your skin in the Sun

In HAT’s Off-Piste & Off-Season Safety Series you’ll find tips on how to ‘Have Fun, Be Safe’ no matter what you’re up to this summer.

 

   As the mercury rises to see UK temperatures hitting an all time high since the 1930s, are you taking care of your skin in the sun? Everyone feels better with a bit of colour in their cheeks - especially since the snow and goggle marks are but a distant memory - but the length of exposure to the sun can lead to an increased risk of skin cancer.

 

We have Top Tips from Val d'Isère's resident Doctor, Alan Griffiths, on how to   look after your skin in the sun, and monitor any changes to moles. These tips were originally published for the winter seasonnaire community in the weekly Mountain Echo in Val d’Isère but the principles can be applied to all kinds of holidays, including the one YOU are taking this summer.

Looking after your Skin 

 Summer is here and everyone wants to get a tan and do it cheaply. When you live in Val, the easiest way to do this is go up the hill “just for two hours” with no sun cream on and leather up that face! 

Believe it or not, the sun is strong enough to burn, even in March. The Ozone layer is not what it used to be and for some reason, people are still not using sun cream. The Medical Centre has seen an alarming number of cases of sunburn and will be seeing a whole load more….

So how do we tan? We have cells in our skins called melanocytes, which secrete melanin when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Melanin protects the skin from exposure and is brown in colour. The darker your skin, the more melanin you have. However, even if you are dark or black skinned, you are still at risk (albeit a reduced risk) of cancer. Every time you burn, you are damaging your skin at the genetic level i.e. you are damaging your DNA. Usually the body’s immune system comes round mopping up these damaged cells. When this mechanism fails, cells multiply out of control – this is cancer. The skin cancer you hear about commonly is melanoma. The incidence of melanoma has more than tripled in the white population during the last 20 years, and melanoma is currently the sixth most common cancer (4% of cancers). However, it’s responsible for more than 74% of skin cancer deaths. Yes, it is nasty.

What are the signs of cancer?
If you have a mole that has been present for years but suddenly changes then look out for the following warning signs: Changes in size and colour, border irregularity, asymmetry, itching and bleeding. Any new mole that appears and fits the above criteria should also be checked out. What are the risk factors? Skin that is fair, with fair hair and blue eyes. Melanoma is also associated with the number of moles present. Ultimately though, degree of intensity and length of exposure to sunlight is the most important risk factor. Sun beds are particularly risky.  
 

Generally speaking there are two types of sun worshipper: The type that sits in the middle of the half pipe for maximum reflection, with factor 4 oil on and a pair of Speedos; and the type who works on the goggle tan putting some time in on the balcony. You know who you are! At the end of the season you will have a tan, even if you use factor 40. Take your time over it, use a high factor and avoid looking five years older and acquiring considerable damage along the way.

Ski resorts are expensive, but if you head to Casino, you can pick up some sun cream for a little less than at the pharmacy. If you have visitors, ask them to bring out some sun cream, preferably at least factor 30. Waterproof stuff is ideal as you’ll sweat when skiing.

Remember to reapply regularly and note that cream only starts working thirty minutes after you apply it. Classically, people forget to apply cream to the neck and ears which become exposed at lunchtime. Acquaint yourself with the “bad mole” criteria, and see your doctor if you are worried, but prevention is definitely better than cure!

Signs of a suspected melanoma are: 1/it increased in size; 2/ its borders are irregular; 3/ it became asymmetrical; 4/ colour has changed; 5/ it became itchy and began to bleed.

 

Read the full article on The Mountain Echo website: http://www.themountainecho.co.uk/english-medical-centre/loking-after-your-skin/

FRENCH PRESS COVERAGE: The British Consul talks Mountain Safety with HAT & the town of Val d'Isère!

Check out our coverage in the regional newspaper le Dauphiné Libéré!

(See english translation below)

 

 

Claire Bouteille, the British Consul based in Lyon, visited Val d’Isere on Wednesday to meet with a group of representatives from the Local Council, the Tourist Office, Piste Security and us at Henry’s Avalanche Talk. The meeting had been planned for a long time, with the goal of discussing the impact a ‘Mountain Safety’ campaign directed at British holidaymakers in the Alps has had during the winter 2009/10. This campaign, of which the slogan ‘Don’t catch your death’ was perceived as inflammatory by some, warned holiday makers of the excesses that can affect you when spending 8 days at a winter sports destination. Through this deliberately poignant slogan, the misuse of alcohol, as well as off-piste skiing without being properly informed, are referred to. The consul stated that the British Ambassador would like to continue this awareness campaign again next winter. This campaign, before holidaymakers leave the UK and while they are on holiday in the mountains, will be based on the affects of alcohol, cold and altitude on the body, wearing helmets and the lack of ski insurance. In order to slim down these ideas, the consul listened attentively to the opinions of the professionals present (including us at HAT!), choosing Val d’Isère as a pilot station. A summary is being written up by the local team present, and highlighting the situation here in Val d’Isère. The work done will allow the construction of the awareness campaign to be carried out more effectively.

 

 

There was some engaging discussion around off piste & avalanche awareness as well as other areas of concern about people on holiday in the winter sports environment. For example: wearing helmets, as well as the best means of raising awareness about how altitude and cold, and alcohol affects people in these conditions and can have a huge impact on the body. The question of having adequate insurance cover for rescue and mountain sports was also debated, since many insurers do not cover claims made for off-piste skiing even though they say they do in some or most cases.

 HAT is working closely with everyone involved to ensure that our message to ‘Have Fun, Be Safe’ is heard loud and clear! Videos and reports in French available via this link to Radio Val d'Isère's web site: http://www.radiovaldisere.com/avalines.php

 

Off Piste Article in Boston U Mag

Click on the image below to go to the on-line article (hard copy issue to be delivered this week)

 

Beeper Review - update

Thank you once again for all your comments on your transceivers. I have now written up my thoughts and posted them here.

In summary, my favourite just now is the Ortovox S1 thanks to its unique ability to show the user where all various victims are at the same time and mark victims by masking, greatly speeding up a multiple search. 

The Barryvox Pulse and Pieps DSP can also mark victims by masking and as such are also fantastic beepers. 

The only currently available model which I feel is not fit for purpose, despite its attractive price tag is the Pieps Freeride, I explain why in the review. 

Due out soon is the Ortovox 3+. I had a chance to test one and I believe it could well become a huge favourite. Again, I explain why in the full review.

This is purely my opinion and I am sure there will be people out there who disagree with me. Please feel free to comment with your own opinions.

Jamie (HAT presenter)

Off piste in Paris

After delays on the eurostar due to breakdowns in the tunnel, I am now off piste drinking Ricards in a bar in the Gare d'Austerlitz in Paris waiting for the overnight train departure for Bourg St Maurice.. should have been arriving now! Got a free round trip eurostar ticket out of it tho. So still favor this to flying - just..

Dramatic off piste avalanche rescue in Val d'Isere

Last week there was a serious accident on the steep Bellevarde slopes (skiers right from Orange piste.)  In this post we describe the incident and the lessons that can be drawn

You can see a full set of photos of the rescue in the photo album called La Daille accident April 2010. See left sidebar.

Site of accident

 A British saisonnaire who worked for a tour operator in Tignes left his friends on the Orange piste and boarded alone off piste to skiers right and by mistake went down the Couloir to nowhere.  Realising his mistake he took his snowboard off and started to walk back up the slope to find another route down. 

Unfortunately a small avalanche was triggered above him and swept him down the slope and over the cliffs below.  He landed on the softer snow and was part buried by the avalanche.  He was also knocked unconscious (at about 2.30pm)

At 4.30pm his friends realised he had not showed up for work and called the rescue services.

As soon as they were given the alert they looked all around the off-piste area to the right of the piste Orange known as the "Spatule and Super Spatule" and the steep slopes off Belvarde above the road which is known as the "Chemin des Coves" and finally saw his snowboard totally intact on top of the avalanche debris in the main part of the avalanche deposition area.

Then they immediately flew a rescue team in and they started probing this deposition area - to no avail. Then they followed the path of the avalanche above to the foot of the cliffs 100 metres higher and heard his unconscious murmuring - then found him buried up to his neck in snow..."

By 5.30pm the piste patrol had found him but only because they heard some strange unconscious mumbling noises.

The following sequence of pictures was taken between 1800 and 1900 during the rescue

Here you see the piste patrol getting more supplies dropped by helicopter

Here you see the team helping the victim and the area where he fell

  

Here you see the bigger helicopter coming in to drop off more people and supplies to help

 

Here you see the piste patrol walking down the slope to recover supplies that had been dropped by helicopter and rolled down the slope away from them

 

Here you see the victim being lifted away in a stretcher by helicopter

Fortunately the snowboarder will be OK after some hospital treatment.  But he was very lucky.

What did we notice

• He went off piste on his own (he was lucky to be found, he could have been there all night and died)
• He was without equipment (he was only found by luck)
• He went somewhere where there was no way out (always check your exit) 
• It is possible the slide was triggered by skiers above (there are tracks) be careful there is no one below you when you go off piste.
• The rescue was fantastically expensive with two helicopters and a team of at least 10 people that I saw.  So make sure you have insurance that covers off piste rescue

We have posted this as a reminder to all of us.  As the the head of the Securite des Piste said to Henry only today.  Remember three things

• Know where you are going and whether it is safe/there is an exit
• Be equipped (beeper shovel probe)
• Be insured properly.  The Piste Patrol in Val d'Isere are increasingly finding that many British insurance policies do not cover off piste accidents and this causes immense distress and problems.  We will be discussing this further in later posts and bulletins.

Snow Report

More snow, cold over the weekend (which means more powder!) and some windy periods. Then a bit of sun maybe on Tuesday then.. more snow.. 

Early April (or even late March) is usually when I’m lecturing on how and when to get the best of the melt/freeze cycles and how to ski the resulting nice spring snow that we usually have at this time of year. But we haven’t had enough melting and freezing yet to warrant a proper spring snow edition to the HAT Snow Report. Except for a brief nasty rain and warm period a couple of weeks ago, we’re still getting lots of snow above 1800 metres in the Northern French Alps. Still more snow is forecast into next week!

Snow Quality and Stability

The snow quality has been great: we’re back to winter temperatures, fresh snow and thus nice winter powder – this is what we live for!

As far as the stability: The rain and very warm weather from 10-14 days ago, which made the snowpack wet up to 2400 metres and very humid up to close to 2800 metres, helped to solidify the snowpack and make it very stable under this new snow. The main thing I'm focused on now is the wind coming out of varied directions (a bit of East at times but mainly Southwest to Northwest). This wind, along with the snow, has already created some unstable slabs that are becoming deeper and more unstable with each snowstorm. So while I’m skiing in a lot of these wind loaded areas (because the snow is good there), I’m also wary of triggering a slab avalanche in steep terrain and/or if there are steep slopes above me. I also think that North’ish slopes above 2600-2800 metres are generally unstable because they weren’t really drenched two weeks ago and ultimately stabilized by that rain and warming that we had then; so there’s a big layer of cohesionless snow lying under all this fresh snow on those high North slopes.

Tips for this coming week

Keep up-to-date on the snow conditions and stability by visiting our blog on www.getoffpiste.com and go to the avalanche forecast translation in the left column, OR if you can read French, on: www.meteo-france.com >Montagne>Bulletins Avalanches.

Have Fun, Be Safe!

Off Piste & Avalanche Awareness Talks: Week of 4 April:

Weds  18.00 sharp Basic Talk at the Pacific Bar in Val d’Isère

Tickets are €7.50 (one person under 18 per adult free) and includes great deals on food and drinks at each place! Pre-booking on line price is: £6 on www.henrysavalanchetalk.com (if you can’t come to a talk see our on-line talks on the web site)

HAT is taking the Talks on-snow this year for people who want to learn more in Val d’Isère & Tignes!
See www.henrysavalanchetalk.com for more info on these practical short courses  

Why you still need to careful when it is avalanche risk level 2

We had a great day of "The Talk on the Snow" in Les Arcs with a group of enthusiastic seasonnaires from The Pink House in Bourg St Maurice yesterday.

We were reminded of three ways to manage risk - even level 2 risk

1.  ski a similar slope aspect and altitide before heading off into the back country

2.  Check out your ideas with the piste patrol

3.  Do some simple tests with a small snowpit

The group from The Pink House   had previously had a private talk and the opportunity to look at the online talk, the day out in glorious sunshine and moderate temperatures allowed us to go into much more depth on Avalanche awareness.  We also managed to fit in some riding where the snow conditions allowed us.

The risk was only level 2 and the obvious off-piste looked pretty tracked out, so the general impression was that it was safe.  However by following the HAT code of practice we were able to avoid going into difficult snow conditions whihc could have proved dangerous and we discovered that in the untracked areas there were still dangers and risks.

The group had two different ideas on where to go to find great snow.  Go off the back of the Grand Col (was good there last week).  Go down the Lanchettes where it is North Facing and the snow holds well.  But to check this we did two things.

First we skied a slope that was the same aspect and altitude as the Grand Col and discoverd it was pretty cruddy!

Second we asked the piste patrol about the Lanchettes and they told us the wind last night had really blasted the slope and it would be no fun and not that safe.

Then we went on some NE facing untracked slopes (see www.getoffpiste.com ) but went very carefully since the risk is level 2 and that tells you that an increased load on a steep slope can trigger a release (especially NE to NW facing - see bulletin)

When we dug the snowpit we found that there was a top layer of 20cm that was prone to shearing off.  (so we were right to go one at a time and use islands of safety.

PS  if you would like a private talk in your chalet plus a day out doing the "The Talk on the Snow" and beeper training.  We have availability this season and can do the whole package for €575 for a group of 6.

This includes a COPE certificate