Rope Removed from Aiguille

The rope on the arête at the summit of the Aiguille du Midi has been taken down. The heat of recent weeks has meant that snow conditions have deteriorated rapidly and the off-piste itinerary the Vallée Blanche should only be undertaken by experienced mountaineers at this time. Crevasses are widening, snow bridges are becoming increasingly weak and narrow and the moraine is ever rockier. It is hoped that the removal of the fixed line will dissuade amateurs from venturing on to the glacier. The Requin refuge is also closed as of today.