UCPA AVALANCHE

UCPA

AVALANCHE

Remembering a tragedy 50 years on.

lives. A further 40 were badly injured. Approximately 75,000 cubic meters of snow had come down the mountain and three trail workers up on the hill, were also swept away and killed. 35

The first to arrive onsite back in 1970 was Jean-Lou Costerg, a young ski instructor, who went on to become head of the Val Pisteurs. This week in an interview with Radio Val d’Isère, he pensively remembered the moment when he first saw the devastation.

50 years ago this week, on 10th February 1970, Mother Nature struck Val d’Isère causing one of the most deadly avalanches the Alps had seen in recent history. The extremely heavy snowfall from the preceding week had accumulated two meters of fresh snow on the South facing slopes of Le Grand Gorge at the top of town. At 8am, the slope released its burden at an altitude of 2,960 meters from the Pointe du Front, causing a colossal avalanche that rampaged down into the valley, across the Isère river, and into the UCPA building. The breakfast room, where over a hundred young people were eating, was instantaneously filled with snow as the windows smashed, unable to withstand the gigantic force. Photo Credit to Le Dauphiné

Some people were thrown down hallways and through windows. Others were buried so deep that they could not move at all. Outside, the snow pushed cars right off the road and blocked access to the hotel. The snow was almost 10m high in some places. 39 people couldn’t escape the grips of the snow and lost their “Even as a mountain-patroller, when you arrive at the site of the avalanche (...) when you hear the screaming, the calls for help in all directions, there is a moment of disbelief. It is traumatic. We could see the snow coming out of windows, doors, everywhere (...) it was hard to react. It’s an emotion that is very strong. These are images that come back” he concludes.

French President Georges Pompidou declared it a national tragedy, and authorities ordered evacuations of other resorts in the region. This proved to be a wise move, as other avalanches followed in the next few days. In fact, the abandoned hotel in Val was struck again two days later.

A huge landslide and consequent avalanche occurred just two weeks later in Plateau d’Assy, killing 76 people. The shockwave of these two natural disasters led to the formation of ANENA, the National Research Association for Snow and Avalanche Studies to try and prevent such a tremendous loss of life occurring in the mountains again. It is to this organisation and the research it has carried out that we owe the huge amounts of protection in place to keep the town safe. Obviously it is impossible to prevent all avalanches but spare a thought on Monday for the security services and all the work they do.

SEASONAIRE OF THE WEEK

Kat Hellier Season Count? Second, did one in Morzine.

What is the best part of the Blue Note nibbles? How garlic-y the hummus is.

What would you name your dog? Cooper.

What’s the best utensil in the kitchen? A guzunder. It goes under, kinda like a spatula. What are you scared of? Being less funny than Phil Packham.

Best pizza toppings? Hawaiian. I love the pineapple, it is the

sexiest fruit out there.

Worst way to spend a day? Any time spent with Bert Bender.

Describe the feeling of shredding pow in three words? Better than sex.

What’s the most dangerous place you have been? The Cotswold Water Park.

You have to change your name to Sharon or Barbara, which and why? Sharon because it is a great name to shout. Shazzaaaaa.

What was the last thing you lost? My switch virginity...

What would you do for a talent show? I would back myself in a dance off, I can get pretty low to Flo-rida.

What/who were you in a former life? A little shrimp.

What has been the most embarrassing moment of your life? I wet myself while working behind the bar once. I then had to work the rest of the night without changing.

recently? A Jerry skiing down Le Face with a tray of 20 shots - he hadn’t spilt any of them and gave me two - legend.

On a scale of 1-fierce how fierce is my new haircut from Antoine? Terrifying.

You are too kind. If you could kill one Disney princess, which one would it be? Preferably all of them, but if I had to pick one, then Snow White - who needs 7 minions?!

What motto do you live by? Always pack a spare pair of pants.

“Seasonaire of the Week” is sponsored by Le Petit Salon d’Antoine who offers our featured seasonaire a free haircut!

TALK OF

THE TOWN

JERRY OF THE WEEK Earlier in the week, a barman arrived at work to find that the bar had been broken into. However, nothing had been taken, in fact, a gift had been left in the back room. Unfortunately, said gift belonged in a toilet. JOTW is for this weird creature of a human.

HAIRIEST DRINK IN TOWN A correction is issued for a previous edition of The Echo stating that Jamie is the doorman at Saloon when, of course, Reuben is the doorman. Speaking of Reuben, he is known for his supportive hugs and was behind the bar with Hope sharing a quick snuggle earlier this week. Hope then took a woman’s drink order who simply asked for “what you are having”. Hope made the drinks and passed them over the bar, only for the confused woman to declare that she didn’t want those drinks, and she had actually been referring to Reuben.

G’DAY ANNABELLE Fairwell goes out to Annabelle who has returned home to the land down under. Annabelle was well known around town for being overtly Australian, very loud and extremely enthusiastic about life. She was also a frequent Echo contributor and will be thoroughly missed. 41

NOT AGAIN James and Jack are such frequent Echo offenders that we are now giving them their own dedicated section. This week, James was DJing when another member of staff walked past the DJ booth. A bit too keen to impress, James was a little heavy handed on the smoke machine button and managed to give the poor girl a second degree burn on her boob through her jumper, T-shirt and bra.

MUMPY KEZ We talked to MUMPY KEZ (occasionally known as DJBIGKEZ) to ask him about his time with the mumps and how it changed him. Here is his harrowing report of the experience: “I felt like an outcast. I snuck from bed to the chip shop once a day with a ski mask to cover my face - it was my only glimpse of sunlight. I didn’t really move much, other than that. I lived on chips, approx 10-12 cups of tea an hour, and Haribo. The doctor loved it. He brought all his mates in to look/poke and to ask how my balls were. I think I’m going to loose 300 quid from my pay this month for being ill but I got bare uni work done and I seem to have got the Big Kez name out and about. So overall, probably worth it.”

(Recreation of the event) We are glad to say that Kez has now made a full recovery. He wants his fans to know that for his upcoming big performance he will, this time, actually be making an appearance.

6 NATIONS Shown at Le Petit Danois (Guinness on Draught, sound on for all matches), Blue Note, The Fall Line (BBQ), Hibou Live Commentary for all matches):

Saturday 8th February 15:15 Ireland v Wales 17:45 Scotland v England

Sunday 9th February 16:00 France v Italy

PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL Shown at Le Petit Danois:

Saturday 8th February 13:30 Everton v Crystal Palace 18:30 Brighton v Watford

SEPARATED

AT BIRTH

Sunday 9th February 15:00 Sheffield Utd v Bournemouth, 17:30 Man City v West Ham

Friday 14th February 21:00 Wolves v Leicester

All Football and Rugby shown at The Fall Line. Sport also shown at Blue Note and Le Hibou.

WOoF OF THE WEEK

Name: Gump

Breed: Border Collie

Age: 5 Months

Dietary Requirements: Dry biscuits and likes a bit of cheese

Relationship status: Single and soon to get the snip

Favourite Activity: Sunbathing

Habitat: Snowberry/Home

Fun Fact: Rescue dog, used to be terrified of people and is now the most sociable dog about town