On Friday the 28th of June 2019, the municipalities of Chamonix and Saint-Gervais have announced the prohibition of landing within a radius of 600 meters around the summit of Mont-Blanc.
This decision came as the result of very high attendance on Wednesday on the summit of Mont-Blanc and the unfortunate death of one speed-rider.
Exceptional weather conditions on Wednesday, the 26th of June, brought more than 150 paragliders on top of Mont-Blanc.
Unfortunately, a man lost his life, therefore measures needed to be taken to prevent tragic accidents from happening.
The municipalities of Chamonix and Saint-Gervais decided to ban the landing within a radius of 600 meters around the summit of Mont-Blanc.
According to France3, the temporary ban is valid until the 30th of June, after which a prefectural decree will come into force, prohibiting landings over the summer period.
"The idea is not to renew this temporary ban every year, it is a measure taken as a result of the news", adds a spokesman for the City of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, pointing to a "real risk "for the safety of practitioners.
This Thursday and Friday, the soldiers of the Chamonix Brigade are present at the Planpraz paragliding take-off area between 11 am and 2 pm in order to make the paragliders aware of the ban imposed by joint municipal by-law of the town halls of Chamonix and Saint-Gervais. (Le Dauphine)