Conférence "La Compagnie des guides et le secours en montagne" par Julien Pelloux

In Val-Montjoie, mountain guides are closely linked to the dangers of mountaineering in the Mont Blanc massif. Long before mountain rescue became professionalized in 1958, it was the guides of the Compagnie des guides de Saint-Gervais who provided rescue services in the valley on a voluntary basis.

From 1850 onwards, the development of mountaineering without guides led to an increase in the number of rescues, introducing a notion that would have a lasting impact on the image of high mountain climbing: recklessness!

In 1864, the Compagnie des Guides de Saint-Gervais became the first rescue company in the valley. As the only people with a thorough knowledge of the mountains and the techniques required, the guides intervened to help amateur mountaineers, sometimes at the risk of their own lives.

Now overshadowed by state services, we pay tribute to these guides who devoted part of their careers to helping others. We will recount some of the most memorable rescue operations carried out by the Saint-Gervais guides, such as the Malabar Princess crash, which are now part of history.

Julien Pelloux is a high-mountain guide with the Saint-Gervais/Les Contamines Guide Company and holds a master's degree in history.