With the return of good weather, hikers promise to be numerous on mountain trails. But nature, sometimes unpredictable, does not forgive imprudence. “The risk of snow flows and serac falls (ice blocks) at altitude is raised at this time of the year, taking into account the presence of a still substantial and unstable snowpack,” warns the prefecture of Haute-Savoie which recommends the greatest caution for Ascension weekend.
Same advice on the side of the high mountain gendarmerie peloton (PGHM) in Corsica. “There are 80 % of the interventions that are carried out between May and the end of September,” recalls Major Bonissone, commander of the PGHM. He estimates that 500 interventions per year on the island of beauty.
Deaths are rare, but can happen. “These are often people with medical history that still embark on difficult routes,” explains the gendarme. Monday, May 19, a hiker was thus the victim of a heart discomfort while he was walking on the GR20 Accompanied by a friend, in the steep sector of Zonza, in Corse-du-Sud. He died despite the rapid intervention of the emergency services.
The most frequent accidents
Each season, the scenario is repeatedly repeated for help. “We have hikers who come a little the flower to the rifle and who are unpleasantly surprised by the difficulty,” says Major Bonissone. From the first step, some must be evacuated because of “insufficient physical condition, trauma in the ankles, knees or tendonitis” and cannot continue.
The GR20, considered one of the most difficult trails in Europe, crosses steep and unstable areas. “It is a route that is quite demanding with land that is difficult, especially on the northern part, with a lot of scree,” recalls the gendarme which advises above all to adopt “an attitude of a good father”.
Prepare your route
Being caution is essential before leaving on mountain trails. “You have to prepare your route well, choose it adapted to your capacities and physical condition by taking into account the difficulties of the field and elevation, and by preferring marked trails,” recommends Major Bonissone.
Another advice: avoid leaving alone, especially since telephone network coverage is far from being insured everywhere. “We can quickly find ourselves alone in the middle of nowhere, and without means of alerting the emergency services in the event of an accident,” he slips, recalling to inform a person around him of the route and tell him that it may not be possible to give news every day. “This will prevent us from undertaking often unfortunately unnecessary research,” says the gendarme.
And if it may be pleasant to walk alone, even in a group, the gendarme recommends that it does not separate and adapt the rhythm of the group to the lowest, do not leave someone hanging behind. ” A precaution which makes it possible to indicate to the aid the place of fall of a hiker for example, and to guide the research.
Always adapt to conditions
At the start of the season, snow can still be present at more than 1900 meters, hence the importance of leaving with suitable equipment. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie advises “wearing mountain shoes with notched soles and leaving with light crampons and sticks to cross, if necessary, the snowfields in safety”, in addition to always having in your bag of what to eat and hydrate and hydrate and clothes adapted to the season.
Weather conditions should never be overlooked and ” The weather should be consulted Every day, recommends Major Bonissone. Do not hesitate to turn around if the conditions deteriorate. »»
And what to do in the event of an accident in the mountains? The first reflex must be to protect the victim from an imminent danger, such as the fall of stone, to cover it and put it dry, before calling 112. “If there is a hemorrhage, it must first be stopped. If anyone is unconscious, you have to put it A Plsetc “, insists the gendarme, recalling that” the first rescuers are the hikers at the scene of the accident “.
