Following an incident where an employee of the Folice Douce restaurant at Val d'Isere was killed by a piste basher resorts have warned of the dangers of being on the slopes at night. The young man was descending the Daille piste after his shift when he collided with the piste basher. In Villard des Lans driver Jérome Blanc posted images of two ski tourers descending the Tétras piste next to his winch cable which was extended over 800 meters. A number of skiers have been killed colliding with cables which are almost invisible at night.
Jérome commented "I was really worried, I saw the two skiers beside my cable, luckily I stopped my engine. A message to ski tourers, don't ski the slopes at night, especially when you can hear piste preparation, there are warning signs at the bottom of the pistes". The mayor of Bernex, who has constant problems with skiers on the slopes after hours, has taken further measures following an argument between ski tourers and workers last week.
Ski resorts say that people picked up bad habits last season during the shutdown to ski where they wanted when they wanted. Walkers, skiers, fat bikers and sledgers are being seen in increasing numbers at night. Last week the Gendarmerie at les Saisies stopped 30 ski tourers between 18 - 19h30. Just a warning this time. Many resorts have put in place itineraries for climbing that avoid the ski runs; provided that skiers don't descend the slopes at night when they are being prepared for the next day's skiing.
http://pistehors.com/nbDeC3AByuHDGsGASHHR/mayor-warns-after-hours-ski-tourers-to-keep-out