Ski patrollers are renowned for their air of coolness and collective calm while doing a job that would scare most people, especially this winter when the conditions have been some of the most deadliest on record.
So far this season, 124 people have died in avalanches across Europe, according to the European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS). That is above the average of 100 people killed in European snow slides in an entire year. The death toll in the French Alps alone is currently 30, and we are only in the middle of the ski season.
So what is the reality like for ski patrollers; are they really that cool, calm and collected in these conditions and what is their job actually like? As a keen skier these are the curiosities I have always had about the people tasked with keeping ski resorts safe.
So when outdoor brand Helly Hansen gave me the opportunity to experience the reality of this by skiing with the ski patrol in Les Menuires, one of Helly Hansen’s partner resorts, I jumped at it. (And if that wasn’t incentive enough Helly Hansen ambassadors and professional free skiers Warren Smith and Aurelian Ducroz were also going to be part of the group.)
Fast forward a few weeks and at 7am on a Wednesday morning we were all gathered at the bottom of a ski lift in Les Menuires in the Alps’ crown jewel, the world’s largest ski area - The Three Valleys.
I headed up the mountain in the Pointe de la Masse gondola - France’s fastest ski lift - with patroller and the resort’s slope manager Gilles Roux-Mollard, 57, who has been doing the job for 37 years.
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Gilles explained how avalanche risk and snow fall very much determine the start time for patrollers – the more snow there has been the earlier they need to start in order to make the mountain as safe as they can before the lifts open to the public.
There wasn’t any fresh snow overnight and although there was a high risk of avalanches still from the heavy snow the week before the majority of the patrollers were starting their shifts at 8am.
There are 53 patrollers in Les Menuires alone and the sense of camaraderie they have is clear; they all know that when it comes to it any day could present a life or death situation and they are in it together.
We saw their incredible skill in action on the slopes as we followed behind them on the opening sweeps of the day on the freshly groomed corduroy pistes, but it’s their knowledge of the mountain and respect for their environment which is the most humbling.
As the day progressed we saw more of their knowledge unfold as well as their reliance on expert kit, which is all engineered and supplied by Helly Hansen. (The brand kits out more than 55,000 professionals around the world, including across more than 200 ski resorts. If you see an HH logo while out skiing you know why.)
The next stop was to witness ski patrol dogs avalanche training in a designated area on the side of the piste.
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The three dogs, who are each owned by a separate patroller, successfully uncover buried volunteers within a matter of minutes – when it comes to avalanche rescue it is minutes that count.
The patrollers explained that 90 per cent of victims will survive if recovered in the first 15 minutes after burial, provided they haven’t suffered a fatal injury, but this drops to just 30 per cent after 30 minutes.
A trained ski patrol dog, along with the assistance of Recco tracking equipment, can search one hectare in around 30 minutes. It would take 20 humans roughly four hours to cover an equivalent area.
Once the exercise was completed the patrollers lifted their dogs onto their shoulders and skied off down the mountain at high speed with the dogs comfortably perched around their necks. This not only ensures the dogs don’t get overtired but also protects their paws from potential injuries from skis.
After lunch we learnt how technology is making all the difference when it comes to mountain safety.
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In 2020 Les Menuires became the first ski resort in the world to use drones and this has transformed both inspection and rescue operations. Using a drone means patrollers can get onto the scene of an accident in less than three minutes.
Les Menuires head patroller Raphael Luzy told us they use drones to survey the mountain, including ski lifts, and they can help operate Gazex systems remotely to set off necessary avalanche explosions. This incredible machine lives in a heated box at the top of the mountain and can be controlled by the patrollers both for proactive and reactive work.
This is increasingly necessary as more and more skiers head off piste, and with conditions becoming more complex with the changing climate. In total there are around 4,000 call-outs for these patrollers during a season.
As the day drew to an end we sat in one of the patrollers’ huts at the top of the mountain waiting to descend for the final ‘sweeps’ of the day – when the patrollers make sure everyone is getting down the slopes safely as the lifts close for the day.
As we waited, while warming up with some hot lemon and ginger tea, the patrollers took the chance to share their kit specification requests with one of the Helly Hansen design leads, who happened to be part of our group. This type of feedback means that details like the position of pockets and zips can be tailored exactly to the professional using it.
I asked how they cope with resistance from skiers not wanting to follow their instructions. The patrollers all replied similarly saying they can’t force anyone. Raphael added: “We don’t have much control other than explaining it is time to ski down, it’s only sometimes that people don’t listen.”
Sure enough, as we headed down with the sun is setting on the Lac de Combes run we had to pause as skiers and snowboarders took their final selfies of the day while also determining their route down. The patrollers patiently ushered them on and gave them guidance on which route to take.
The takeaway from the day is not only how brave and dedicated ski patrollers really are but also how kind and patient they are to do this vital job day in, day out. So next time you’re out on the slopes don’t forget to give the patrollers a wave – I have it on good authority it is one of the highlights of their day.
Philippa’s trip was supported by Helly Hansen and Les Menuires tourist board.
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