Monday 30th April 2018, a mountaineer (35) and a skier (35), lost their lives in the Mont-Blanc massif.
According to Le Dauphine, the mountaineer died early in the morning while attempting to climb the couloir Couturier, at the Aiguille Verte (4,122m).
The couloir Couturier: 1,000m of ascent at altitude. Slope: 52°/850m (55°) + 45°/50m.
The circumstances are not yet clear, but the victim didn't fall. The gendarmes of the Chamonix PGHM Mountain Rescue said that the accident occurred due to bad weather conditions. The mountaineer which was climbing with a companion, got stuck in the first third of the couloir and he would probably died of hypothermia. His friend is unharmed.
According to the preliminary information, the mountaineer was from Annecy.
In the same day, an avalanche took place at Glacier Rond
A second fatal accident happened in the same day in the late morning: a skier that was together with three other people was swept away by an avalanche at the level of the Glacier Rond, in the West Face of the Aiguille du Midi (3,842m).
According to Le Dauphine, the group triggered a sheet of snow, just under the summit, and the 35-year-old man was swept away by the avalanche, which made him jump a serac.
The rest of the group was able to go up by their own means to the Cosmiques Hut and came back down during the day.
According to France Bleu, the victim was from the Paris region. His body was found later in the afternoon.
We recommend the utmost caution in all mountain activities!
We advise you to take great care with all mountain activities. Do not go off-piste without obtaining advice from the mountain professionals or competent services and, as always, carry the essential equipment: shovel; probe; avalanche victim detector, etc.
Snow and avalanche information: www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-montagne/bulletin-avalanches
Stay informed about the conditions and find out more at the Office De Haute Montagne/La Chamoniarde, phone number: +33 4 50 53 22 08.
