Bareges/La Mongie, France

Rob from FRANCE writes:

In reply to Jesus Alvarez

We live here in Bareges all year round and know the area very well and how the system works here. So just to clear up a couple of your points that are untrue or just that the language barrier has made it difficult for you to understand.

1. Bareges – La Mongie is still a very French resort and some of the staff here have very limited English or Spanish. When anyone who may go to another country you have to expect to try to speak a little of their language. The French here that encounter the Spanish and English do find that our mannerisms are very different and this sometimes comes across to them as been rude, ignorant and arrogant, however, this is how our cultures are and what makes us all different. In a situation such as this you have to be calm, speak slowly and clearly and, most importantly of all, to one person at a time.

2. If you look at your insurance policy (“global assistance”) this may be found in the small print, most insurance do not cover recovery from a mountain top ski or boarding accident scene, this is covered as an extra payment when buying the forfait/Lift pass. You are asked if you require the extra insurance at the time of purchase of the lift pass and the premium is an extra 2.30 euros per day.

For accident recovery, the minimum amount you would expect to pay to get you off the mountain here is 350 Euros to get you back to the bottom lift station, then an ambulance ride back to Bareges: further 300 Euros. The people that are in the 1st Aid post can only administer/offer simple 1st Aid and recovery back to the base station, if the accident is deemed bad enough then a doctor is flown in by helicopter directly to the scene to stabilise the injured person and then evacuate directly to hospital. This costs 10,000 and again is sometimes not covered within your insurance policy, but would be covered under the insurance of your forfait/Lift pass at the time of purchase.

If you have no proof of insurance on your person at the time of the accident then as with all of France you need to pay with cash or a credit card and reclaim the money from your insurance. Some unscrupulous people who do not have insurance expect treatment then leave without paying. This affects us all and our local taxes are raised to compensate for the loss. This has happened in the past and this is why you are asked for insurance details and proof of identification. If all is correct then you should receive the same care if you’re French, English or Spanish.

3. The doctor here in Bareges covers the 3 other resorts Gavarnie, Luz Ardiden, Bareges – La Mongie, she has a full X-ray and facility and has administered her skills to some of our friends, guests, us and our own family, she speaks very good English although not perfect it is still excellent. English and Spanish here tend to expect treatment and not have to prove who they are and if they are also covered by insurance. This is a legal requirement here in France and you should carry your ID cards.

The president of your group/club should have given everyone a copy of the global assistance insurance to show proof of being insured which includes recovery from a snow piste. All insurances are null and void if the accident has happened off-piste unless you have that particular insurance.

Bareges – La Mongie has a good history of low accident statistics and a good history of care in village. I have no hesitation in recommending this area as an excellent area to snowboard or ski. I hope this gives you a more informed view.

2008-02-14

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