Monday, 23 June 2014, a 48 year-old climber, ascending the Mont-Blanc, had to be evacuated by the Chamonix PGHM, after his climbing boots were stolen from the Goûter Refuge (3 835 metres)
A 48 year-old climber made an overnight stop at the Goûter Refuge (3 835 metres) en-route for the summit of Mont Blanc. In the morning, he was very upset to discover that his boots had been stolen! As he was unable to descend wearing only woolen socks was evacuated to the valley floor by the Chamonix PGHM. It was around 9am, that the man realised his boots were missing. He was unable to find another pair so his summit attempt had to be aborted. But he still had to get down to Chamonix and descending wearing nothing but socks was a recipe for disaster. The Gouter Refuge administrator called the PGHM and they transported him by helicopter to the Valley below.
"When a person is in this situation, they are taken by helicopter. Were not going to let them descending in socks; it's dangerous," said the Chamonix PGHM commander.
To descend into the valley, Mont-Blanc mountaineers have to walk several hours on snow and rock, all the way to Nid d'Aigle (2 372m), the terminus point of Tramway du Mont-Blanc. The route traverses the notorious Grand Couloir where rock falls are frequent ad can be continuous.
The Gouter Refuge is a magnificent building, some 3835 meters above sea level can accommodate up to 120 visitors. It is situated almost 1000 m below the summit of Mont Blanc, on the traditional route with the same name, the Gouter route. Each year, thousands of climbers attempt to summit on this route, sleeping overnight at the Refuge and departing in the early morning for the final push to the summit, leaving most of the day to return to the valley floor.
