Sunday, 8 Sep, 2013, the PGHM Chamonix responded to a call for assistance below the Bec de Corbeau on the route to the 'Gite a Balmat' and La Jonction.
A 56 year old American male hiker was reported missing at about 3pm in the afternoon. It was discovered that he fell from the path on the North side of the ridge between the Bec de Corbeau and Mont Corbeau. His body was recovered by Chamonix PGHM close to the edge of Bosson Glacier.
It is safe to assume that he fell about 200 metres.
Le Bec du Corbeau is located on the historical route to the summit of Mont Blanc, about 500 metres below the 'Gite a Balmat'. In the early 1980's, hikers stopped using the old route because of rock fall and the current route, on the North side of the ridge, became more and more popular.
This route was the place of another 2013 fatal trekking accident: on the 16 Mar 2013, a father and his son, both British nationals were part of a fatal an accident while trekking a route to La Jonction.
