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Security Information Sheet

1/ Information concerning all outdoor adventure sports and activities

  • Understanding the risks involved with certain activities and environments:
    Outdoor adventure sports are exciting and rewarding activities but encompass risks associated with the natural environment (weather events, obstacles and ground movements, landslides, falls, etc.) as well as risks inherent to each sports activity (that range from “minor” to “strong” depending on the level and type of practices involved).
    These risks are significantly higher for certain sports said to be “environment-specific” (high mountain, back-country skiing, climbing in adventurous terrain, caving, canyoning, kayaking in class 3 rivers and above, scuba-diving, etc.) where the guidance of a highly qualified professional is strongly recommended.
  • Limit of the guide/instructor’s liability:
    The primary role of a guide or instructor is to limit risks as much as possible, without ever asserting that it’s possible to completely eliminate them. This inescapable share of risk, which is inherent to any outing in a natural environment and any notion of adventure, can be the source of moments of discomfort, inconvenience, incidents or even accidents, linked to the specific characteristics of the activity and/or the natural environment in which it is carried out, irrespective of any fault on the part of the guide/instructor. This specific aspect must be taken into account prior to contracting with a professional guide/instructor. The client must therefore knowingly assume their own share of responsibility when deciding to engage in an activity and a natural environment whose inherent objective risks cannot reasonably ignored by them.
  • Precautions and duties of the client with respect to the guide/instructor and the group: 
    Prior to any activity, it is essential:
    - that the client inform their guides or instructors of their physical, psychological and technical profile and of any resulting precautions, restrictions and contra-indications with regard to the practice of the sport (by means of an information form provided or any other suitable means of information), 
    - to take good note of the information provided by the guide/instructor in order to be properly prepared with the appropriate gear.

During the outdoor activity, in order to not jeopardize one’s own safety and that of the group, it is crucial to: 
- come the recommended gear (when not provided by the guide/instructor),
- comply with the guide or instructor’s instructions, 
- and not hesitate to ask for more information if there are any doubts or concerns.

2/ Information specific to ski-mountaineering, off-piste and back-country skiing

  • Difficulty ratings:
    The difficulty of a ski-mountaineering, off-piste and back-country skiing route can be fairly objectively evaluated using different rating systems, including in particular the TOPONEIGE system, described below in its 3 components:
    - The "ski" difficulty rating, which essentially evaluates standard technical difficulty but which may vary according to snow conditions - from S1 (initiation) to S5 (entry into extreme skiing), with subdivisions 1, 2 and 3 at each level and beyond 3 (open scale) to level 5  
    - The climbing rating – from F (easy ) to D (difficult)
    - The exposure rating, which evaluates in standard snow conditions the risks of injury in the event of a fall linked to the presence of natural obstacles and aggravating factors such as rocky outcrops (the risk may be accentuated in hard snow) - from E1 (exposure only linked to the slope itself, with no noteworthy obstacles) to E4 (falling is forbidden, major rocky outcrops or cliffs).  
  • Risks inherent to the activity and the environment: 
    -  At all rating levels, the standard risks of physical injury associated with snow sports and walking, when climbing or descending (muscular injury due to intensive exercise or lack of technique or physical preparation, falls, slips or stumbles leading to sprains, strains or fractures) – that one may avoid by taking care not to overestimate one's own current physical and technical capabilities, by properly informing the instructor or guide, by following their technical recommendations throughout the outing and (if one wishes) by wearing a helmet and/or back protection and/or muscular and joint support devices (according to one’s profile and needs).
    - At all rating levels, the risks associated with the snow mantle and avalanches, measured on the European scale (http://www.meteo.fr/guide/avalanche_guide.html) from level 1 (low risk) to 5 (very high risk forbidding any high-mountain outing – that one may avoid by adapting the choice of routes according to real-time weather and snow conditions and by using specific individual or collective safety equipment (avalanche transceivers, search probes and shovels, Airbag-type backpacks, etc.) ;
    -  At all rating levels, risks associated with a route on glacier terrain – risks of falling into a crevasse or linked to the possible instability of certain seracs (or ice walls) that one may avoid by wearing an individual safety harness, by making an informed decision about the route, by having a vigilant and prudent attitude and by strictly obeying the technical, direction and safety instructions given during the outing by the professionals in charge of the group. 
    - At all rating levels, physical and physiological risks associated with winter in the mountains – risk of thermal discomfort and even frostbite (due to insufficient protection or poor blood circulation) and risk of mountain sickness (in case of lack of acclimatization to altitude and rapid ascent in ski lifts, for example) that can easily be avoided (other than during expeditions) by wearing the appropriate clothing and other prevention/protection equipment, with light medication or a swift return to the valley or other protected spaces. 

3/ Information specific to mountaineering in rocky, glacier and/or snow-covered terrain

  • Difficulty ratings:
    The difficulty of a mountaineering route is evaluated according to rating scales specific to each terrain encountered and each technique used (only the scales used in France are presented here):
    •    The overall Alpine rating that evaluates the technical difficulty of a route – from F (easy) to ABO (abominably difficult)
    •    The “seriousness” rating, only used for snow, ice and mixed routes and ranging from I (short, fairly close route with an easy descent) to VI (route on a major face, exposed, with sustained difficulties, unreliable retreat routes and a long and difficult descent, which is only possible to do in a single day by excellent mountaineers)
    •    The technical rating for rock climbing – from 2 to 9, with the sub-ratings a, b and c and possibly qualified by a “+” (for example, a 6c+ is considered slightly more difficult that a 6c and less difficult than a 7a)
    •    The technical rating for ice climbing that evaluates the difficulty of passages on ice falls or ice chutes – from 1 (simple hike on ice with crampons) to 7 (length on rare or fragile vertical ice that is difficult to secure, reserved for experts).  
  • Risks inherent to the activity and the environment: 
    - Risks of incidents and accidents during approach and return hikes on a snow-covered route: muscle injury due to a lack of physical preparation or a technical deficit, fall, slide or misstep causing a strain, sprain or fracture – that one may avoid by not overestimating one’s own capabilities, by properly informing the guide, and following their technical recommendations. 
    - Risks of falls and impacts during a climb – that one may avoid by using a rope, harness and safety helmet, intermediate safety relay points and vigilant belaying by the accompanying guide.
    -  Risks linked to the snow mantle and avalanches, measured on the European scale (http://www.meteo.fr/guide/avalanche_guide.html) from level 1 (low risk) to 5 (very high risk forbidding any high-mountain outing) - that one may avoid by adapting the choice of routes according to the real-time conditions and by using specific avalanche safety equipment. 
    -   Risks associated with a route on glacier terrain – risks of falling into a crevasse or linked to the possible instability of certain seracs (or ice walls) that one may avoid by wearing an individual safety harness, by making an informed decision about the route, by having a vigilant and prudent attitude and by strictly obeying the guide’s technical, direction and safety instructions. 
    - Risks of falling rocks or ice on a route – these are risks of a random nature but that may be avoided by adapting the route and progress to real-time conditions, presence of others on the route and the mandatory wearing of a helmet. 
    - Physical and physiological risks associated with winter in the mountains – risk of thermal discomfort, frostbite and mountain sickness that can easily be avoided (other than during expeditions) by wearing the appropriate clothing and other prevention/protection equipment, with light medication or a swift return to the valley or other protected space.  

Nota bene:
If you are physically or psychologically fragile or if you have any specific contra-indications to the risks mentioned above, you must expressly inform the guide or instructor prior to beginning the activity, and if possible, prior to finalizing the booking.