"Alpine portraits" webserie
A daily routine. A mission. An ongoing adventure.
In the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Valley, the mountains are more than just a backdrop: they're a place to live, work and commit. Here, nature imposes its rhythm, its demands, and sometimes its challenges. Mountain guides, first-aid workers, refuge wardens, farmers and top athletes all share the same reality: a daily life shaped by altitude, the seasons and a deep passion for their environment.
" Visages d'Altitude " is a new documentary webseries that sets out to meet these men and women for whom their job is much more than a profession: it's a vocation. Through sensitive and sincere portraits, the series sheds light on those who bring the valley to life day after day, often behind the scenes, but always with commitment. At their side, a phone designed to withstand all conditions: the new Stellar X5 .
Each episode plunges us into their world, between moments of tension, everyday gestures and moments of contemplation. These unique, inspiring stories tell the tale of a mountain that's alive, human and resolutely looking to the future.
The " Visages d'Altitude " web series will follow nine profiles from all walks of life, with one thing in common: a deep attachment to the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Valley and a sincere passion for their profession. Nine perspectives to tell the story of a unique region, through the eyes of those who live it every day.
EP1 : Louise
From December to April, Louise is a ski patroller on the La Flégère ski area.
Even before the first skiers arrive, her day begins on the still silent slopes. Securing the ski area, triggering avalanche warnings, beaconing: every gesture counts to guarantee everyone's safety.
All day long, Louise watches, observes and intervenes. Accidents, changing weather conditions, unforeseen mountain events: her job demands rigor, responsiveness and perfect knowledge of the terrain. Through her eyes, the episode reveals a daily life of commitment, solidarity and an intimate relationship with the mountains, where vigilance never wavers.
EP2 : Merlin
Merlin has turned his passion for snowboarding into his profession.
A child of the valley, he grew up at the foot of the mountains and is now a member of the French snowboard cross team. In winter, he criss-crosses the globe to the rhythm of the world cups, competing and traveling.
But behind the races and the bibs, the preparation takes place behind the scenes. All year round, Merlin trains, fine-tuning every detail, pushing his physical and mental limits.
Buoyed by his roots in the Chamonix region, Merlin moves forward with a dream in mind: to perform at the highest level, to aim for the great globes, and perhaps, one day, to win an Olympic medal.
EP3: Anna & Coline
For Anna and Coline, being refuge wardens is above all about "making the inaccessible accessible": offering a warm place to people who venture into an environment that is not necessarily so.
Perched at an altitude of 3,613 m, the Cosmiques refuge is steeped in history. Formerly a laboratory in the 1930s for the study of cosmic rays, it now welcomes mountaineers from mid-February to the end of September. For this pair of wardens, the season is long and particularly intense, between the body-weary altitude and the daily technical challenges.
EP4 : Etienne
For Etienne, being a mountain rescuer means first and foremost responding to the unexpected: each rescue is unique and poses a unique problem to be solved.
The PGHM in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is the most active mountain rescue unit in the world, with around 1,300 interventions per year. At the heart of the world's mountaineering capital, where the technical skills of mountaineers are extremely high, Etienne and his team have to be constantly on the cutting edge.
For this seasoned first-aider, daily life is an intense rhythm of real-life missions and advanced realistic exercises, which nevertheless fits in with an ordinary family life in the valley.
