On Sunday, January 11th, a vehicle was filmed traveling at speed on the blue piste of Les Aillouds in the Houches ski resort, in Haute-Savoie, France. The piste is designated for ski touring, not vehicular traffic.
A Dangerous Situation
The incident occurred around 5:45 PM when a ski tourer observed a vehicle ascending the piste. Minutes later, the same vehicle was seen descending, with its headlights on. The ski tourer filmed the event, and the video quickly gained over 214,000 views after being posted on social media by the popular account “Chamonix.”
Michel Cugier, director of the ski area, described the situation as “hyper grave” (very serious) to Le Dauphiné Libéré. He stated, “It froze my blood to see this,” and emphasized the potential for a catastrophic impact: “If someone had been there, the driver would never have been able to stop.”
The presence of snow groomers, station personnel, and restaurateurs on snowmobiles further compounds the danger. The ski area operator, “LHSG,” has stated it will “not tolerate these excesses” and has reported the incident to both the town hall and the Chamonix gendarmerie.
Investigation Underway
The gendarmerie has opened an investigation to identify the driver. The rapid spread of the video online has brought attention to an incident that those on the ground believe could have easily resulted in tragedy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on January 11th?
A car was filmed driving on the blue piste of Les Aillouds, which is reserved for ski touring, in the Houches ski resort.
What was the reaction to the incident?
The director of the ski area, Michel Cugier, called the behavior “hyper grave” and expressed concern that a collision could have occurred. The ski area operator has reported the incident to authorities.
When is the piste open to ski tourers?
The piste des Aillouds is open to ski tourers until 9 PM, as per a municipal decree.
Given the potential dangers highlighted by this incident, what additional safety measures could ski resorts implement to prevent similar occurrences in the future?
