Are the Mountains falling down around us?
Sadly even after the amount of snow we had over the winter, it's not enough to protect the glaciers that are present in and around the Chamonix valley. It was recently reported in Le Dauphiné Libéré that parts of local glaciers are just complete ice, with very little no snow coverage on top. The 'Tacul triangle' and north face of La Tour Ronde, are two examples of parts of the glacier that are suffering under the intense heat. After exceptionally warm summers of 2003 and 2005, the mountain temperatures for the start of the 2006 summer season look to be following a similar pattern. Those of you following our snow reports will be aware of our recent heatwaves and weather pattens being experienced here in Chamonix.
With a temperature of 0 degrees around 4000m conditions are not ideal for glacial growth. Although the valley is approaching similar summer temperatures of 2003, we're not quite breaking any heatwave records just yet. Mountain guides and the Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne (PGHM) are recommending that extra caution is taken on glaciers and routes where rocks might be contained within the glaciers incase significant melting results in highly unstable passes liable to serious rockfalls. With the mountain being so dry, the glaciers are opening up too, with snowbridges collapsing and crevasses becoming highly visible.
Rock formations are at the heart of the Aiguille Rouges mountains in Chamonix, where conditions still remain good, however, there is evidence that some of the Aiguilles around Chamonix are not faring so well, Les Drus being a typical example. Large rockfalls on Les Drus last summer (check out our news article from 30 June 2005) have obliterated many traditional climbing routes now, and it is strictly off limits to climbers due to the high risk of rock fall.
Elsewhere in the valley, ramblers and people venturing into the mountains are being asked to report rockfalls during their routes. Last week the north face of the Aiguille du Midi was subject to rock falls and on the Glacier des Nantillons, west of the Chamonix Aiguilles, there have been reports of ‘missile like' rock falls.
Additionally, the traditional Mont-Blanc route via the Dome de Gouter (St. Gervais) is popular route chosen by many, it may not remain so if conditions deteriorate. Rockfalls in the Gouter Corridor are presently not causing a problem until the end of the afternoon. The local PGHM indicated that they presently seem to be holding during the day. So far, the PGHM have not had to respond to any of mother natures accidents along La Voie Royale route. It's still ok to use the Gouter section before midday.
