Stranded at altitude for New Year's Eve

One group of 23 people set off from Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise with the intention of a day trip ski touring before the end of the year, however a SMS was received by the PGHM (rescue services) indicating the group were in difficulty due to the bad weather.

The PGHM told the group to find shelter in the Ruitor refuge (at 2038m) were they could find heat and cooking equipment to keep them going until morning. At first light a helicopter set-off to recover the group bit by bit and a total of six rotations were needed to evacuate the whole group.

Over in Pralognan-la-Vanoise a group of family and friends were out snow-shoeing on Thursday when the weather closed in and forced the group to find shelter at the Roc de la pêche refuge (1911m), the group had to endear two nights at altitude before the Courchevel PGHM could be cleared for take-off and rescue.

Almost identically a group of another six snow-shoers on holiday in Val d'Isere were caught short at 2530m and had to shelter in the Fond des fours refuge overnight.