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Two Climbers Die After a Fall in the Couloir du Gouter

A busy day for the PGHM yesterday as the weather improves around Mont Blanc

featured in News & reviews Author Pam Williamson, Chamonix Editor Updated

With the first wave of good weather for sumitting Mont Blanc comes the sad news of two climbers dying after a 700m fall in the Couloir du Gouter.

Known to some as the 'couloir de la mort', not because of the number of deaths that occur on this stretch but because of the risk of rock fall from above, the couloir in fact forms part of the most common route to ascend Mont Blanc. It is located between the Tête Rousse refuge (3167 m) and the Refuge du Gouter (3817 m),

Yesterday (Wednesday) at around 09:15 the PGHM were called after two climbers fell around 700m down the couloir, Sadly the fall was fatal.

Later that day, at around 14:30 they were again called to the same area where this time they were able to rescue another climber who had fallen. He is currently in a critical condition in Sallanches hospital.