A system developed by a French company could revolutionize the search for people lost in mountains, even those buried under an avalanche. The device, a portable IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) catcher, developed by French company Diginext, is currently in use by the military.
The footwear specialists of Calzaturificio Dal Bello have picked up this year’s ISPO footwear award for the LITE version of their Virus ski touring boots. The ISPO jury thought the boot was innovative, offering a better package while reducing overall weight.
Dalbello V.i.r.u.s Lite ski boot
The Marker Tour bindings models have been awarded with backcountry awards by the ISPO jury. They found that the Tour F10 and F12 “fully satisfy the requirements for a modern touring binding.” They were impressed by the overall design, ease of use, materials and finish.
Marker Tour FT12 binding
A 21 years old has been found alive under an avalanche after 17 hours. He was found conscious and with just mild hypothermia according to the rescue services.
Last Saturday Gilles Durand, a 53 year old college professor and director of sports at the University of Grenoble was climbing the steep couloir des Sultanes with a friend when they triggered a slab avalanche. The couloir takes it name from the large sentinel rocks that guard the entrance.
Couloir des Sultanes
A Danish skier in his thirties has been killed by an avalanche this afternoon at Val d’Isère. The avalanche occurred on the West facing Grand Vallon at 2700 meters altitude. The skier was part of a group of eight from the UCPA and accompanied by an instructor.
Working in cooperation with the Compagnie du Mont Blanc, a partnership of a mountain guide and ski instructor has produced a video aiming to reduce the number of skiers falling into crevasses. The 6 minute video will be screened all winter at the Aiguille du Midi and Grands Montets ski areas.
While governments plan a long term strategy to cope with climate change the return of a real winter in Europe, particularly the North, has left public services struggling to cope. Airports at Chambery, Grenoble and Lyon were unable to run normal schedules with some winter sports enthusiasts diverted to Milan or left waiting three days to get a flight.
Photo - Luc Thollet http://www.bivouak.net/
Backcountry travellers risk being buried in an avalanche of hyperbole this winter as journalists and law-makers turn their sights on off piste skiers. Writing from the comfort of some Parisien brassiere the Guardian’s intrepid Lizzy Davies alluded to a “Winter of Terror” similar to 1999 or 1950 with “alpine residents living in fear” of avalanches raining down on their chalets.
The 2008-2009 ski season in France saw 35 avalanche fatalities in 24 incidents. The number of fatal incidents is above the median established since 1989 of 19 incidents. The season had good snow conditions from late November through to May with four major periods of avalanche activity.
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