A British snowboarder fell 30m into a crevasse while crossing a snow bridge. The accident happened around the Bédière, at more than 3200m altitude. The gendarmes rescue workers successfully pulled the snowboarder out of the crevasse unharmed.
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Seven members of the Valley Blanche group happened to be amputees due to either illness or accident.
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Most of the skiers are from the Rhone-Alps area but they come from all over France. Patrice, from Nice, has a femoral amputation and he is a snowboarder. For seven years now, he has been a pioneer in the world of amputees and stretching the limits often imposed upon the handicap. He now wears a prosthesis with a shock absorber allowing him to board like anyone else on the mountain.
After the vertigo-inducing ridge of the Aiguille du Midi where the guides, Guy Pellerin and Dominique Debesnoit, alias Doumé, specialist in guiding handicapped persons, lead them closer to the beautiful panoramas.
Philippe Louzeau, who organized this whole day, did the Valley Blanche once, 30 yrs ago. After a motorcycle accident which took his leg, he dreamed of returning to ski the “VB.”
An old school companion, Guy, happened to be one of the four guides with them that day. It wasn’t the easiest descent for Philippe and he even broke his prosthesis at the foot of the Aiguille but it was an amazing day. The expedition made the second to last train down from the Montenvers.
More comfortable and graceful than the others was Lydie Tournier. She was a competition level athlete before her cancer. She was and still is and amazing athlete. Always leading the pack Tuesday.
Christophe Odoit, was amputated from his tibia. Originally from Chevrière, was the second boarder in the group. “I was an athlete before. I was into motorcycles, auto rallies, I biked and now I snowboard.” The Valley Blanche? “The large traverses were the most tiring but as a whole it was not terribly difficult. More dangerous than anything! Luckily, the guides were there with us. ”
Like his friends, he just wants to show others that, even with only one leg, he can “do anything!” And life continues…
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01 Apr 2009: Snowboarder falls 30m into VB crevasse
A British snowboarder fell 30m into a crevasse while crossing a snow bridge. The accident happened around the Bédière, at more than 3200m altitude. The gendarmes rescue workers successfully pulled the snowboarder out of the crevasse unharmed.
... [read]
A British snowboarder fell 30m into a crevasse while crossing a snow bridge. The accident happened around the Bédière, at more than 3200m altitude. The gendarmes rescue workers successfully pulled the snowboarder out of the crevasse unharmed.
... [read]
31 Mar 2009: Dynastar factory in Sallanches, 90 persons will lose their job
"We are astonished", this was the only phrase that was told by one of the rares workers that decided to talk to the press.
Oddly, the calm which reigned at the beginning of evening in the factory in Sallanches, contrasted with the hurricane caused by... [read]
"We are astonished", this was the only phrase that was told by one of the rares workers that decided to talk to the press.
Oddly, the calm which reigned at the beginning of evening in the factory in Sallanches, contrasted with the hurricane caused by... [read]
30 Mar 2009: Mortal Car Accident in Les Tines
Les Tines is a small hameau between Chamonix and Argentiere. Soon after the alert call was made, the ambulance and firemen were on the scene. It was pretty horrific.
The victim was walking along the side of the road and hit by a passing vehicle.... [read]
Les Tines is a small hameau between Chamonix and Argentiere. Soon after the alert call was made, the ambulance and firemen were on the scene. It was pretty horrific.
The victim was walking along the side of the road and hit by a passing vehicle.... [read]
27 Mar 2009: Chamonix Valley Train Line Damaged
Ten minutes earlier, the Chamonix train, in the direction of Fayet, filled with school children, came across the mass. A few minutes after the accident, another train crossed its path and backtracked upon seeing the accident. A large mudslide around... [read]
Ten minutes earlier, the Chamonix train, in the direction of Fayet, filled with school children, came across the mass. A few minutes after the accident, another train crossed its path and backtracked upon seeing the accident. A large mudslide around... [read]
25 Mar 2009: Golden Ice Axe, the comeback to Chamonix
After a period where this famous prize was under suspension, it will come back in 2009 and it will happen in Chamonix.
The 17th edition will chose 6 routes climbed in 2008, from a list of 57 big first ascents or high difficulty routes climbed all over... [read]
After a period where this famous prize was under suspension, it will come back in 2009 and it will happen in Chamonix.
The 17th edition will chose 6 routes climbed in 2008, from a list of 57 big first ascents or high difficulty routes climbed all over... [read]
24 Mar 2009: First Valley Blanche at 79yrs old - Chamonix News
Having lived in the area most of his life, the Vallee Blanche has always been a dream that was impossible to acheive. Lucien Mermoud, father of helicopter pilot, Alain Mermoud, lost a leg and a lung in Algeria due to a mine.
With advancements in handicap... [read]
Having lived in the area most of his life, the Vallee Blanche has always been a dream that was impossible to acheive. Lucien Mermoud, father of helicopter pilot, Alain Mermoud, lost a leg and a lung in Algeria due to a mine.
With advancements in handicap... [read]
23 Mar 2009: The Mont Blanc Tunnel : Ten years after the fire, what has changed?
Since the reopening of the tunnel in 2002, in less than two minutes, rescue workers can be in place to combat any fires. The 1999 fire, with it’s 39 deaths, created a rupture in the vision of the fluidity of circulation in the tunnel. Since the fire... [read]
Since the reopening of the tunnel in 2002, in less than two minutes, rescue workers can be in place to combat any fires. The 1999 fire, with it’s 39 deaths, created a rupture in the vision of the fluidity of circulation in the tunnel. Since the fire... [read]
22 Mar 2009: AURELIEN DUCROZ: 2009 World Ski Freeride Champion
The Freeride World Tour 2009 came to an end with an amazing fourth stage and grand finale: the Nissan Xtreme – Verbier. The Frenchmen, Xavier de Le Rue in snowboard and Aurelien Ducroz in ski, are the Freeride World Champions 2009 while taking incredible... [read]
The Freeride World Tour 2009 came to an end with an amazing fourth stage and grand finale: the Nissan Xtreme – Verbier. The Frenchmen, Xavier de Le Rue in snowboard and Aurelien Ducroz in ski, are the Freeride World Champions 2009 while taking incredible... [read]
22 Mar 2009: AURELIEN DUCROZ: 2009 World Ski Freeride Champion
The Freeride World Tour 2009 came to an end with an amazing fourth stage and grand finale: the Nissan Xtreme – Verbier. The Frenchmen, Xavier de Le Rue in snowboard and Aurelien Ducroz in ski, are the Freeride World Champions 2009 while taking incredible... [read]
The Freeride World Tour 2009 came to an end with an amazing fourth stage and grand finale: the Nissan Xtreme – Verbier. The Frenchmen, Xavier de Le Rue in snowboard and Aurelien Ducroz in ski, are the Freeride World Champions 2009 while taking incredible... [read]
19 Mar 2009: Winter Olympics 2018: Annecy won!!!
In Chamonix, to celebrate the victory of Annecy to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, 5 guides went to the top of the Mont Blanc with a big flag... Thanks Annecy 2018!!!
Then it was just crazy, with a few helicopters and lots of jornalists taking pictures... [read]
In Chamonix, to celebrate the victory of Annecy to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, 5 guides went to the top of the Mont Blanc with a big flag... Thanks Annecy 2018!!!
Then it was just crazy, with a few helicopters and lots of jornalists taking pictures... [read]