Leave your Luxury Chalet with the Right Equipment

The mountains provide a world of entertainment in winter for skiers, snowboarders, walkers and climbers staying in a luxury chalet. Yet this playground, as beautiful as it is, can also be highly dangerous. Chamonix is no different and those up the mountain should take all the suggested equipment and a healthy respect for mother nature when leaving their luxury ski chalet in Chamonix. Even the most experienced of us can be caught out up the mountain with a sudden change in conditions. Be aware, be prepared and be safe.

Equipment -

Those planning on exploring off the beaten track or off piste should be aware of the equipment recommended for such excursions. The essentials are a transceiver, probe and shovel, however there are a number of other devices designed to help should the worse happen and the wearer gets caught in an avalanche.

Transceiver: Needen't be the most expensive but make sure you are confident using it. Digital transceivers are better as they have isolation functions allowing multiple victims to be identified.

Probes and Shovels: Shovels and probes are essential when travelling in the backcountry. Probes come in different sizes, however the smallest commonly recommended for Chamonix is 240cm. Without a probe to accurately locate a victim and shovel to move the snow recovery times increase massively and a victim buried under a metre of snow will take almost an hour to recover.

Airbag System (ABS): In the event of an avalanche the potential victim pulls the cord to deploy the two airbags housed in a backpack which is designed to lift them to the surface of the avalanche to avoid being buried.

Avilung: Worn on the outside of clothing or built into a backpack the Avilung is a breathing device to use if buried. Reducing the largest cause of death in the circumstances the Avilung draws oxygen from the snow and deposits carbon dioxide in a small reciprocal .

Avalance Ball: A marker system that, once deployed, increases the likelihood and speed of being found if buried by leaving a very visible ball on the surface of the avalanche. Dramatically reduces time spent probing.

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 there are a number of search and rescue helicopters based in resort all year round.

Useful numbers:

Weather in English - 0892 70 03 30
Tourist Office - +33 (0)4 50 53 00 24
Compagnie des Guides - +33 (0)4 50 53 00 88
Maison de la Montagne - +33 (0)4 50 53 22 57
Reserve des Aiguilles Rouges - +33 (0)4 50 54 02 24
Mountain Rescue (PGHM) - +33 (0)4 50 53 16 89
Hospital - +33 (0)4 50 53 84 00
Pompiers - 18
International Rescue - 112

For further information on any of the above products please don't hesitate to ask us at Hip Chalets, we want our guests to be safe up the mountain as well as have a fantastic time in on of our luxury ski chalets Chamonix. Hip Chalets have a large portfolio of luxury chalets available for private and corporate ski events.

Posted in our Services - Monday, 13 February 2012 14:50