Tuesday 22nd August 2017, an Italian mountaineer (58) suffered a fatal fall of about 150 meters on the Couloir du Goûter, while descending the Mont Blanc from the Goûter Hut (3,835m).
According to France 3 Regions, the accident occurred shortly before 3pm. The Chamonix PGHM rescue team could not do anything. The mountaineer died on the spot.
The man was descending with a partner, but the two were not roped together. His climbing partner is currently interrogated by the Chamonix PGHM in order to understand the reasons of this accident.
The Couloir du Goûter, sector located between the Tête Rousse Hut (3,167m) and Goûter Hut (3,835m), is a real "black route" during this period.
This is the fifth fatal accident in this sector since the beginning of the summer.
La Chamoniarde calls for caution
La Chamoniarde, the local mountain security association, draws attention on the current conditions for climbing Mont Blanc.
The rain at very high altitude, at about 4000 meters above sea level together with the cold of these last days made the snow very hard and icy on several sectors:
- Dôme du Goûter;
- North face of Mont-Blanc du Tacul;
- Mont-Maudit.
Océane Vibert, the Director of La Chamoniarde said that "these conditions require perfect knowledge of the cramponing techniques". "The itineraries usually open to novice mountaineers now are reserved to experienced mountaineers".
Therefore climbers adventuring in the Mont Blanc massif must have a very high level of mountaineering experience.
