The Vallée Secrète, a narrow valley between two cliffs rising to an altitude of more than 2,000 metres, presented archaeologists with a logistical challenge. The team landed by helicopter rather than abseil down from the mountain crests, requiring several journeys to drop off excavation equipment and archaeologists. Unable to land, the pilot tilted the helicopter into the slope, hovering just inches from the ground, a manoeuvre called a "support skate".