Ski Club Of Great Britain.

Msej449, looks like you were lucky with the weather, it's been very poor so far this summer.

There are insurance issues regarding preventive rescues. Insurance companies (not only UK based ones) often don't regard them as proper rescues so they are reluctant to pay out. There are also issues with helicopters being used to rescue people who are not (in their eyes) seriously injured enough to warrant the use of a helicopter. To avoid any problems I have a rescue card (Carte de sauvetage) it provides cover when the insurance company won't. I get mine from Air Zermatt, because I live in the region they cover. They are also issued by Air Glaciers and Rega, it could be the best 35 francs you ever spend. Rega have written a guide on calling out a rescue helicopter http://www.rega.ch/pdf/einsatz/Merkblatt_Alarmierung_Rettungshelikopter_en.pdf The number to call in Canton Valais is 144. If you have a smart phone it's useful to have an app such as SwissGrid which displays your location in Swiss grid coordinates, so that they can locate you as quickly as possible.

SwingBeep wrote: I have a rescue card (Carte de sauvetage) it provides cover when the insurance company won't. I get mine from Air Zermatt, because I live in the region they cover. They are also issued by Air Glaciers and Rega, it could be the best 35 francs you ever spend. Rega have written a guide on calling out a rescue helicopter

Now i can certainly see the value in this. Do you know if this kind of cover is widely available in other regions?

However having said that do you think that it could also make the less than expert skiier that little bit braver and possibly reckless knowing that they effectively have a 'get out of jail free' card?

Snapzzz wrote:

Now i can certainly see the value in this. Do you know if this kind of cover is widely available in other regions?

However having said that do you think that it could also make the less than expert skiier that little bit braver and possibly reckless knowing that they effectively have a 'get out of jail free' card?

I have had an Air-Glaciers Card for several years. It covers me everywhere, year round. Repatriation to Switzerland is included. Purchase online, and delivery to any address. AFAIK they don't pay out for outright stupidity, and there have been Court cases over reckless behaviour and claims.

www.airglaciers.ch

Snapzzz wrote:

SwingBeep wrote: I have a rescue card (Carte de sauvetage) it provides cover when the insurance company won't. I get mine from Air Zermatt, because I live in the region they cover. They are also issued by Air Glaciers and Rega, it could be the best 35 francs you ever spend. Rega have written a guide on calling out a rescue helicopter

Now i can certainly see the value in this. Do you know if this kind of cover is widely available in other regions?

However having said that do you think that it could also make the less than expert skiier that little bit braver and possibly reckless knowing that they effectively have a 'get out of jail free' card?

Mountains are not an amusement park and there is no really such thing in skiing as "get out of jail free" card. Insurance doesn't equal a safety margin and is a totally separate concept. Having a good insurance cover is not a safeguard against returning home in a body bag or sustaining severe injuries. You don't need to be an expert skier to understand this. Plus claims can and have been disputed.

I am not sure if you can get Rega or Air Glaciers cover if you don't have a Swiss address, but if you can get it - it's a good thing to have. On the other hand, if you are a piste skier and don't tour, usual insurance you buy with your ski pass is generally sufficient.

verbier_ski_bum wrote:

Mountains are not an amusement park and there is no really such thing in skiing as "get out of jail free" card. Insurance doesn't equal a safety margin and is a totally separate concept. Having a good insurance cover is not a safeguard against returning home in a body bag or sustaining severe injuries. You don't need to be an expert skier to understand this. Plus claims can and have been disputed.

I am not sure if you can get Rega or Air Glaciers cover if you don't have a Swiss address, but if you can get it - it's a good thing to have. On the other hand, if you are a piste skier and don't tour, usual insurance you buy with your ski pass is generally sufficient.

Air Glaciers will deliver their card to the UK, along with renewals.
Some UK Insurers no longer cover search and rescue in their European travel Policies. The insurance on sale at ticket offices seems quite limited, and like the Air Glaciers Card will be an add on to a travel policy. For my peace of mind, it's nice to know that I will not have to endure a Call Centre going through a Menu before "approving" my rescue expenditure.

Hi bandit and others. Not been on here for some time, but was just told about this thread.

I have just been reading through the legislation mentioned earlier and it seems to me that it all comes down to whether a person taking a group is acting as a professional i.e.. being paid or just out with a group of mates. If with your friends you still have a duty of care towards each other and you should at all times use good judgement, but IMO I do not think you would be breaking any laws.

Whether the SCGB would now be considered working as unqualified professional and therefore breaking this law, only a test case would decide. I know a few leaders that would not want to be the ones in a test case. They are now taking a similar line in France as well, asking for a licensee to be leading even on the piste in the Paradiski and some other areas. Off piste leading would be very difficult now as the SCGB still do not insist on full basic avalanche safety gear for all members of the group and everywhere you go there are signs now telling you what each person in a group should carry as an absolute minimum. Getting stopped and checked off piste could put the leader in a whole lot of bother in many French ski areas now.

At the very least, disregarding local authority advice could nullify ones insurance in case of an accident.

As for the sad accident that took place in Vebier. The details posted earlier seem to fit with what someone I have spoken with who was in the group described. I am pleased to see the details have now been posted. Should they have been in such a place. Not for me to judge, only those there that day can answer that IMO. One point worth mentioning. SCGB leaders are not trained to use ropes and climbing gear so should not be carrying it or going to places where it was needed. Plus it states in the regulations they must follow that the leaders may only go off piste in areas they know well. All common sense really.

As for the Rega Card. I have one for when in switzerland. Very cheap and well worth the money. My advice to anyone is get one. It works in a very similar way to Carte Neige in France. The last thing you want to be doing is worrying about who will be paying the bills if you need a helicoter off the mountain.

Hope to see some of you in Verbier again this season.