VHF Radio Networks

The VHF network includes numerous frequencies assigned to mountain professionals: the PGHM (high-mountain gendarmerie platoon), guides' companies, mountain refuges, the CAF (French Alpine Club), and ski stations. These channels form the backbone of day-to-day safety coordination across the French Alps and Pyrenees.

While the network was originally reserved for professionals — guides, accompagnateurs, speleology and canyoning instructors — an initiative launched in 2000 opened access to a wider public.

Understanding how mountain rescue operates before heading into the hills is a mark of a responsible mountaineer. Rescue coordination across the French Alps and Pyrenees relies on a structured chain of communication, from the initial call through to the deployment of helicopters and ground teams. Knowing which frequencies are designated for emergency use, and how they connect you to the relevant authorities, can make a critical difference when conditions turn difficult. For anyone undertaking treks, climbs, or alpine routes — whether in France or abroad — familiarizing yourself with local rescue procedures should be as routine as checking the weather forecast.

VHF radio remains a cornerstone of mountain safety communication, even in an age of satellite messengers and smartphones. The networks serving the high country are shared among professionals and recreational users alike, with dedicated channels reserved for emergency traffic. Learning to use a handheld radio properly, including how to transmit a clear position report and how to monitor the right frequencies, is a skill that every hiker and climber can develop. In the cross-border regions, additional emergency frequencies have been established to ensure that a distress call can be heard and answered regardless of which side of the frontier you happen to be standing on.

Personal locator beacons and modern satellite devices add another layer of security for those venturing into remote terrain. Registering your beacon with the appropriate national database ensures that rescuers receive accurate information about your identity, your planned itinerary, and your emergency contacts before they even take off. This simple administrative step can save precious minutes during a rescue operation. Combined with sound preparation, honest self-assessment of your abilities, and respect for the conditions, registration is part of a broader commitment to travelling by fair means — a philosophy that values self-reliance while acknowledging that help, when needed, should be swift and effective.

Canal Emergency (Canal E)

Canal Emergency is a single VHF frequency monitored by rescue services across three countries:

• France: PGHM, CRS mountain units, SDIS (departmental fire and rescue service)
• Switzerland: OCVS (cantonal rescue organisation), Rega air rescue
• Italy: Aosta Valley Civil Protection

Satellite Beacon Registration

Personal locator beacons (PLBs) operating on the 406 MHz frequency must be registered with the appropriate national authority. In France, registration is handled by CNES and SARSAT. A properly registered beacon allows rescue coordinators to quickly identify the owner and verify alerts, reducing false-alarm responses and speeding genuine rescues.

Full Reference Document

A comprehensive document listing all French and international mountain rescue contact details — covering every communication method referenced on this page — is available for download. It includes frequencies, phone numbers, and coordination procedures for the key rescue organisations operating in the Alps and Pyrenees.