4 climbers perish on Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc is in the news once again this week after claiming the lives of 4 more alpinists, trapped on the mountain by severe weather. The 4 climbers (a British man and three women from France, New Zealand and Chile) were all students in Grenoble and had already spent the previous 3 days on the mountain acclimatising. They were last seen leaving the Durier hut (3600m) on Monday, heading in the direction of the Aiguille du Bionnassay (4062m) and the piton des Italiens (4002m) when the storm began to close in and they raised the alarm. However, the severity of the weather prevented rescue services getting to the party that evening and they were forced to spend the night on an exposed ridge at 4000m in 100km/h winds and temperatures as low as -20. Sadly they had been unable to dig themselves any form of shelter as they did not have the necessary equipment to dig a snow cave, and the four were found by the PGHM the following afternoon having died from exposure.
This has been a very difficult summer in the high mountain with severe storms, strong winds and much snowfall creating increasingly unstable conditions. Captain Bozon of the Chamonix PGHM expressed his frustration with climbing parties who seemingly fail to check the weather forecast before heading out on an itinerary, or even more alarmingly, choose to ignore it! On this same day, a Spanish group and two Czech climbers were also rescued from the Dome du Gouter having spent the night in a snow hole protected by their tent.
In addition to the 3 day forecast from Chamonix-weather.com, detailed weather bulletins are regularly posted at the Office de la Haute Montagne (beside the church) where you can also get up to the minute advice on your chosen itinerary.
Source: Le Dauphiné
