Helitransport of Tougnète gondola

7am. Méribel is awakened from its slumber by the sound of a helicopter echoing around the valley. The Bell 214 is not yet visible, but already a cloud of dust is rising above the roofs of Méribel Alpina, and the fir trees are beginning to dance to the rhythm of the rotors which can be heard lashing the air. Their swaying marks the beginning of a ballet that you would think they had rehearsed all summer long.

It is therefore worth the effort of getting up early, unless only small loads are to be carried. A pylon head can weigh over two tonnes and there are six to be changed, and because it is necessary to remove the old ones before the new can be installed, a total of 12 must be carried by helicopter.

And yet, in less than two hours, it is all done! The choreography was perfect, it has to be said: for each new pylon head the helicopter first makes a quick drop next to the pylon, just for a few seconds, so that the team on the ground can attach the necessary guide ropes.

The helicopter then rises so it can place the head on top of the pylon: while the pilot manoeuvres as precisely as possible two people on the ground pull on the ropes to guide the head into position.

As soon as it is in place the technicians who are on the pylon must as quickly as possible tighten the giant assembly bolts before signalling to the pilot that he can leave to fetch another head.

The pilot releases the ropes and departs. At each pylon the same perfectly orchestrated and harmonised ballet is repeated until the last dance is over.

It is now nearly 9 in the morning, too early for the curtain of night to fall, and yet it feels as if a whole day’s work has already been achieved.

Next act : the splice of the cable.