 Poster: A snowHead
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37314026
"About 100 people are stuck on a series of cable cars high above the glaciers of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, officials say.
The authorities are planning to bring in helicopters to rescue them.
The cable cars were at "an altitude of about 3,800m (12,468ft)", the prefect of the Haute-Savoie region, Georges-Francois Leclerc, told AFP news agency.
The problem was caused by cables that got crossed for "unknown reasons", the head of the cable company told AFP.
"We are in contact with the clients (in the cable cars). They have water and some means of communication but are beginning to find it's taking a long time," Mathieu Dechavanne said.
Italian and Swiss crews have joined the rescue operation.
The cable cars offer tourists a panoramic view of Mont Blanc."
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Okanagan wrote: |
"We are in contact with the clients (in the cable cars). They have water and some means of communication but are beginning to find it's taking a long time," Mathieu Dechavanne said.
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They be even more annoyed tomorrow when they are rescued.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
| those still trapped have been given water, food and survival blankets. |
I hate to be indelicate but what goes in must come out. Em, where?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@maggi, exactly what I was thinking. Horrible, horrible, horrible experience.
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@maggi, @Hurtle, That's the first thing I thought of too!
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I was just having that very conversation with the husband. I mean guys can wee out of the window but it's not so easy for the women. Also #2 doesn't bear thinking about...
What a fun night they'll be having 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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My immediate concern was how cold it's going to get tonight but Mrs A's was the toilet facilities (or lack of them). Either way it's going to be pretty grim up there - if not life threatening.
How on earth did it happen? Why didn't the evacuation procedure cope?
Is this lift still part of Compagnie du Mont Blanc?
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Perhaps they should give them some Imodium with the food & water. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Even with survival blankets I guess the nighttime temperatures at approx 12000 ft altitude and 1000ft above a glacier will make it feel pretty cold. Not to mention if there's an appreciable wind making the cabins swing..... 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| altis wrote: |
| Why didn't the evacuation procedure cope? |
There are 36 cabins on a very long bit of string.
The latest report in Le Dauphiné suggests that they are going to be stuck there until Saturday morning due to the weather forecast.
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Okay, the thought of being stuck in a glass box with a stranger and their turd is pretty grim. But apart from that so long as they feel safe and can be kept warm enough / fed / watered it's a matter of mindset.
I'm reminded of a TV news story some years ago where a newsreader was interviewing a lady who had been winched out of some precarious situation. He was desperately trying to pursue a story about how terrified she must have been / how traumatic it was etc. etc. But she stuck to her guns saying actually it had been quite exciting as she'd never been in a helicopter before!
Apart from anything else they're going to get a great view of dawn breaking...
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You know it makes sense.
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It's these summer season amateurs. It wouldn't have happened to skiers....
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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I was under the impression that Imodium and Valium were the priority supplies 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It could be a great bonding experience.  A fascinating scenario for a series of short stories. Each dealing with a group in a different gondola.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
I mean guys can wee out of the window
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Not at my age. Have you seen how high those windows are?
When I went on that very lift two summers ago, the place was rammed with far easterners wearing totally inappropriate gear. I think some may have had a very cold night.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Pruman wrote: |
| Quote: |
I mean guys can wee out of the window
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Not at my age. Have you seen how high those windows are?
I remember coming home one Friday on a "slam door" train , and all the loos were locked. Had to stand up foot on each seat and pee through the 2 inch gap at the top, not easy I can tell you.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| blahblahblah wrote: |
| Pruman wrote: |
| Quote: |
I mean guys can wee out of the window
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Not at my age. Have you seen how high those windows are?
I remember coming home one Friday on a "slam door" train , and all the loos were locked. Had to stand up foot on each seat and pee through the 2 inch gap at the top, not easy I can tell you.
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blahblahblah, that'll teach you for having a couple of pints before getting on the train...
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Lifts close readily when people have paid for a weeks pass and the winds are high. I wonder if they're so keen to close them for the day tripper market?
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Gotta admit I have had a laugh at this thread and these people in this unfortunate situation but I do feel for them.
I've been up the aguille du midi a few times and the once I I almost crawled back in to the lift and squatted in the corner. Don't know why but on this occasion I'd suffered altitude sickness which soon disappeared once we were on our way down.
If any of these "tourists" have never been to these heights before I'm sure a few are feeling quite ill...add to this the stench of urine and excrement it must be very unpleasant! 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I said those things were dangerous... .
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
add to this the stench of urine and excrement
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if there are opening windows people should be able to organise chucking it out. Poly bags, drinks bottles, etc. Poo in your handbag and throw it out if necessary.
I well remember on a very wet camping holiday in Scotland peeing in a pineapple chunks tin (having eaten the pineapple.......). Had to be a wee bit careful about the jagged top, as we only had a fairly basic tin opener.
It's like a reality TV show.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Presumably the timescale allowed an army of ambulance chasing lawyers to greet them and persuade them that it had been the most traumatic experience of their life.........
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You know it makes sense.
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wasn't there an incident like that in Italy more recently than 1961, mid to late 90's from memory, was an American fighter jet!!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I think having to defecate into your favourite bobblehat while catching eye contact with 5 other cabin residents *would* be classed as first world trauma.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| manicpb wrote: |
Gotta admit I have had a laugh at this thread and these people in this unfortunate situation but I do feel for them.
I've been up the aguille du midi a few times and the once I crawled back in to the lift and squatted in the corner. |
bet that was popular with other users !
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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The French don't have many loos, the Austrian's don't seem to know what a coin laundrette is.
Please Brits before you brexit, teach those Europeans about both.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Alastair Pink, ahem, guilty as charged,
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Dog owners will hopefully have had the means to dispose of their waste.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Hells Bells, that was exactly what I had said to OH a little while ago. Those dratted black bags pop out of pockets whenever you don't need them.
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@cameronphillips2000,
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Lifts close readily when people have paid for a weeks pass and the winds are high. I wonder if they're so keen to close them for the day tripper market?
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Just what I was thinking, our gondolas shut as soon as the breeze turns to wind.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Hells Bells,
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Dog owners will hopefully have had the means to dispose of their waste.
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No trees up there to tie those black poo bags to 
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@pam w, froze solid by the time it hit the ground; then you could bludgeon a seal with it for supper.
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FAQ
As the backpack I would usually have with me in a cable car cost a few euros from Decathlon I could probable bear to part with it.
