The PGHM based in the Haute-Savoie (Annecy and Chamonix) flew a record 1,437 mountain rescue operations in the eleven months to the 30th November 2008 with 1040 in the Mont-Blanc range alone. This exceeds the whole of 2003 with 1399 rescue operations. The PGHM expect to fly close to 1500 operations in the year. There were 50 deaths on Mont-Blanc alone this year including the 8 climbers killed in an avalanche on the 24th of August.

http://pistehors.com/news/ski/comments/0848-mont-blanc-avalanche-little-hope-for-8-climbers/