Safety in the mountains

Avalanches

December to May

• Stay on open, groomed and marked ski runs. Closed runs and roads are closed to everyone, including ski tourers and walkers.
• Before going off-piste or ski touring, read the daily avalanche bulletin from Météo-France, and carry a transceiver, a shovel and a probe.
• Tell someone your route and when you will be back. Avoid going alone.
• If you witness an avalanche: call 112, mark the point where the person disappeared, then search straight away with transceiver, probe and shovel.

Storms and flash floods

May to October

• Check the Météo-France weather warnings before setting out. A storm on the peaks can make the mountain stream rise within minutes, even when the sun shines in the village.
• Never picnic or camp in the bed of a stream, and keep away from the banks during and after heavy rain.
• Never cross a flooded road or bridge, on foot or by car.

Falling rocks

All year, especially in spring and after rain

• Do not stop under cliffs or rock nets along the road to the pass.
• Respect road and path closures.
• If rocks fall, move away sideways from their path and do not turn back. Report fallen rocks on the road to the police (17).

Wildfires

Summer and dry spells

• No fires and no barbecues in or near the forest. Lighting a fire within 200 metres of woods is forbidden except for landowners.
• Put out cigarettes in an ashtray, never on the ground.
• If you see smoke or flames, call 18 or 112 straight away and move away at right angles to the wind. In a car, stay inside.

Livestock guardian dogs

June to September, on mountain pastures

• Large white dogs protect the herds. Stay calm, walk around the herd at a wide distance and never cross it.
• Get off your bike and push it. Keep your own dog on a lead.
• Do not pet, feed or threaten the guardian dogs.

Trails and mountain pastures

If you hear the siren

• The national alert signal is a rising and falling tone, three times 1 minute 41 seconds. Go into a building and stay there.
• Listen to Radio France stations. Do not use the phone except in a life-threatening emergency.
• Stay inside until the end-of-alert signal (a continuous 30-second tone) or official instructions. A test is run on the first Wednesday of each month at noon.
• Alerts may also reach your mobile phone through FR-Alert, with no app or registration needed.