Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue, 19/03

The Glacier Travel team waits for the top bin of Les Grands MontetsThe Glacier Travel Course on Wednesday, the 19th of March was led by high mountain guide Yannick Graziani. Emma, Nick, David and Arnaud participated, and Anne and Elizabeth from Chamex were allowed out of the office to join in and brush up their crevasse rescue skills too.

The group took the Grands Montets cable car to the top, 3275m.  After a quick moment to admire the stunning views of l’Aiguille du Midi and Mont Blanc,Glacier Travel Course participants practice self-rescue on the Argentiere glacier they skied down towards the Argentière glacier, enjoying a few turns of fluffy powder! Yannick scouted a good crevasse and then described possible scenarios of how and where one might fall into one, and the course of action to take. Everyone proceeded to lower themselves into the crevasse and pull themselves back out. It was quite challenging and a bit exhausting.

As the sun moved behind the mountains, the group skied down the Argentière glacier and stopped for a quick warm drink at the Refuge de Lognan. They finished off the day with an exercise in rescuing others using a pulley system.

Argentiere glacier basinGuide Yannick explains rescue techniquesEmma and Nick hold the rope tight for YannickGuide Yannick checks out the crevasseYannick lowers himself into the crevasseGuide Yannick abseils into the crevasseNick & Emma pull themselves out of the crevasse under the watchful eye of Guide YannickYannick and Anne lower Arnaud into the crevasseYannick and Nick lower Arnaud into the crevasseGlacier Travel Course participants practice self-rescue on the Argentiere glacierCrevasse on the Argentiere glacierCrevasse on the Argentiere glacierElizabeth lowers herself into the crevasseAnne & Elizabeth self-rescue Elizabeth in a crevasse on the Argentiere glacier

If you enjoy off-piste skiing, ski touring or mountaineering, you should learn these techniques too! Contact us today to join a group!

photo-blog elizabeth 20 Mar 2008