HOW TO BE RESCUED
Fingers crossed you’ll never need to ring the mountain rescue services but, if you do, you can do your bit not to endanger the rescuers and to make their job as easy as possible.
• DO NOT elaborate or waste time with any unnecessary information. Focus on answering the questions the operator asks you – they know what they’re doing!
• DO be aware that the most important information required is the location (with coordinates and altitude if possible) and the nature of the accident or injury.
• DO provide your mobile phone number so you can be contacted if any additional information is required.
• DO be aware that when you call the rescue services, they are in control. The pilot is a trained expert and he will decide where to land. He will take little notice of your directions.
• DO make sure you’re clearly visible from the sky.
• DO NOT leave loose equipment (backpacks, skis, etc) lying around – they pose a severe danger to helicopters.
• DO NOT move. Stay where you are when the helicopter has landed – the rescue crew will approach you.
Assessing the risk of danger
to themselves is a vita
l judgement call for the
rescue teamWHO PAYS?
A rescue mission is very expensive, especially when a helicopter is involved. A single-engine helicopter costs CHF77 (about €48) per minute; a double-engine helicopter costs CHF87 (about €54). At night, an additional CHF14 (about €9) per minute is charged.
The deployment of a team of rescue specialists (mountain guides) can quickly mount up to CHF3,000 (about €1,868). These costs will always be charged to the victim, not to the person who makes the call for help. Some travel insurance policies cover the cost of mountain rescue missions or you can buy a rettungskarte (rescue card) from Air Zermatt for CHF30 (about €19) per year, which covers you for one helicopter rescue. More than 14,000 of these cards have been sold so far. However, some people abuse the service. Climbers regularly ring from the busy Hornli Ridge on the Matterhorn because they’re tired and they still have a coupon – can the helicopter come and take them down?!
Top spots for fun in the Alps
Geneva is the kicking off point for some of the best skiing in the Alps, whether you’re a first-timer or looking for adrenalinfuelled black runs. There are over 175 ski resorts within three hours’ drive of the airport, and plenty are less than an hour away. Here are just a few…
Chamonix: Best for off-piste action, but covering such a vast area that all ski levels are more than catered for. Morzine: Best for non-skiers and it’s under an hour from Geneva airport.
Verbier: Best for expert skiers and, with pistes over 2,500m, snow is pretty well assured. Châtel: Best for families and fantastic for intermediate skiers and snowboarders.
Les Gets: Best for intermediates and snowboarders, and another one that’s less than an hour from the airport.
Megève: Best for glamour and tradition, set in a pretty, cobbled, car-free town. Avoriaz: Best for all levels and snowboarders and, as part of the Portes du Soleil ski area, has access to 650 individual pistes and 209 lifts.
Villars: Best for family skiing but with a challenging snow park and a descent from 3,000m right into the village. Alpe d’Huez: Best for winter sun, with almost all its slopes south-facing.
Val d’Isère: Best for après ski. Part of the Espace Killy ski area, with 300km of skiing.
Just remember to take care so you don’t need to be rescued!
GETTING THERE
bmibaby flies to Geneva from Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands and Manchester airports from just £34.99 one-way, inc taxes. Geneva is the gateway to some of the most incredible snow resorts in the world, including Zermatt. For more information, log on to www.bmibaby.com
