This is a timely film that highlights one of the three big dangers facing off piste skiers and tourers (apart from avalanches and falls) in the Mont Blanc massif. A great effort by two very knowledgable pros.
Has some good ideas about skiing on glaciers—and some pretty scenes of doing it.
But perhaps some more editing would help, like ...
* the narrator says to maintain plenty of distance between skiers, but then around video time 4:30 it shows three skiers standing right next to each other.
* later somebody says something like to keep some limits on your skiing on a glacier, but earlier they showed somebody taking air.
- (then landing from air on a bridge over a hidden crevasse puts extra impact on the bridge, which could result in an unnecessary collapse—I remember a YouTube video showing exactly that).
But what I’d most like to see is a “Part 2” which would address planning for safety before even before riding the lift up to the top of the run—questions like:
(a) are some days inherently more risky than others?
(b) are some routes on glaciers inherently more risky than others?
How to choose which day and which route?
- (consider the parallel questions for [I]avalanche[/I] risk)
Ken
I think this is the video you are thinking off
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npsNHLetgBU
falling head first into a crevasse is not to be reccommended. I will have to post the sad story of a young Chamonix guide that did that sometime. As you probably well know in a V shaped crevasse your body heat will melt the ice a little, this will lubricate your passage and you can descend deeper and deeper into the jaws of the monster. If the crevasse is narrow the only way to get you out is using pneumatic drills - and for that they need to be able to lift the gear to the site by helicopter.
A part deux might be a good idea. I think for public consumption the message needs to be simple, without giving the watcher the impression they have enough knowledge to go and tackle glaciated terrain without a competent buddy or guide. I think that is also a danger with forums where people think they can glean enough knowledge to handle crevasse rescue etc.
Hi Ken
Thanks for your feedback. We recognised the apparent contradiction of grouping together during the editing but elected to keep that shot in. Mountain decision making is less rule-based and more concept-based. You can group together if you make a judgment that it’s safe to do so!
Likewise with Tom taking air - he is a very talented boarder so is riding well within his limits, and the landing site was thoroughly checked beforehand! We don’t want to kill the joy of riding completely.
In terms of part 2, we’re certainly open to suggestions. There are LOADS of great avalanche vids out there already, the best example being A Dozen More Turns which you can see at http://revver.com/video/310519/a-dozen-more-turns/
Thanks gain, and have a great winter.
ANDY P