Falling rock: a fatality on Pas de Chevre: a group of nine skiers were on the Pas de Chevre when a boulder fell, killing one and injuring another.
Friday, 7 March 2013, about 4.30pm, the Chamonix PGHM respond to a call for assistance on the Pas de Chevre.
A group of nine people, accompanied by two High Mountain Guides, one Swiss the other, German, were skiing off-piste from the top of the Grands Montets down to Mer de Glace, when a falling rock hit two people: a man, 36, died from his injuries in Annecy hospital and a woman, 46, is recovering from serious injuries. The woman was taken by helicopter to Sallanches and then, due to the gravity of her injuries, she was transported to Annecy.
The Pas de Chevre is a fantastic off-piste route from the top of the Grands Montets down to the Mer de Glace. The route descends to the west from the top lift station. On the route, skiers have to choose to pass through one of four couloirs (Pas de Chevre, Central Couloir, Rectiligne, Couloir de Dru). None of them are easy to navigate.
Risk of rockfall: Water from snow melt penetrates fissures in the rock and freezes when temperatures fall below zero. Water expands when it freezes, opening the fissures in the rock but 'gluing' the rock together. When the ice melts, the 'glue' is gone and there is a high chance of rock fall. The Pas de Chevre runs immediately below the Dru. This mountain looses tons of rock each year. During the spring, in late afternoon, there is a very high risk of rockfall.
