Amongst the many missions flown by the PGHM based in Chamonix on the 11th July was the recovery of the body of a Polish climber killed after falling in the couloir du Goûter. The Goûter is the normal route to the summit of Mont Blanc from St Gervais. The climber, aged in his thirties, was leading a group of three Australians at the time of the accident.
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The Rescue Services in the Isère department have flown seven rescue missions in the space of a couple of hours today. Conditions were difficult for pilots with high winds and drifting snow. A series of avalanches in the Isere and Haute-Savoie have left five people dead and others injured. Sebastian Rigaud, a spokesman for the mountain police in Grenoble has advised skiers to keep off the mountains for the next few days. If skiers do go out the greatest care is needed in route choice.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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