The 47-year-old was attempting to climb the Pic du Midi mountain on snowshoes with her family on Thursday evening when she fell several hundred metres down the slope, according to the national gendarmerie mountain units (PGHM).
The emergency services received the alert at 5.30pm and dispatched a helicopter to the mountain to rescue the woman, who merely suffered bruising despite the extent of her fall, and the fact she was not wearing a helmet.
The woman, originally from Dordogne, had embarked upon the ascent of the 2,877 metre peak with her partner and two children, wearing just snowshoes. A spokesperson for the mountain police told AFP the family had been “poorly equipped” for the snow-covered slopes, as their footwear was insufficient and would not hold.
In such wintry conditions, mountaineering equipment is essential for such excursions, such as helmets, ice pick axes, appropriate footwear with crampons or cleats, and “a length of rope in case the group do not feel comfortable,” explained the officer.
Unfortunately, the woman’s mishap has not served to discourage other amateur climbers, the police said. “We still received calls on Friday from people attempting to climb to Pic in snowshoes. We have strongly advised against these ventures.”
The woman, who was evacuated from the mountainside with her family, was checked by a doctor and deemed well enough to continue her holiday.
