Chamonix, an Alpine town that is among the most magnificent tourist sites in France, located at the foot of Mont Blanc, has a problem. Despite being the world capital of mountaineering, the area has fewer and fewer residents. Moreover, the exodus has only intensified since the beginning of the 21st century. Over the past 25 years, the mountain village has lost 10% of its population, dropping from 10,000 residents in 1990 to 9,000 today. The cause is property speculation, driven by intense tourism. Local real estate prices have become as prohibitively expensive as those in Paris's chic neighborhoods, making access to housing increasingly difficult, if not impossible, for locals. As a result, the population has continued to decline, though Chamonix accounts for eight million overnight stays by tourists per year.

Dylan Hatzenberger, 30, had dreamed of setting up a life for himself in his hometown, but he has struggled to find affordable housing. Nevertheless, he has a rare, essential and well-paid job in Chamonix: helicopter pilot. He transports the workers and materials needed to repair high-altitude infrastructure, as well as delivering supplies to mountain refuges. Sometimes, he even assists rescue workers with emergencies. After starting his career in Canada, Hatzenberger returned to the Alps, his birthplace and favorite region. When he first came back, in 2020, he lived in Sallanches, a town near the ski resort village of Megève, where his partner works as a veterinarian. Then the young couple wanted to move back to "Cham'" to be close to family, friends and his job as a pilot with a new company.

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