An avalanche on the Mont-Blanc du Tacul has hit a group of four Swiss climbers this morning around 9h00. A 40 year old climber was killed by the slide. A search is continuing for a 39 year old guide who it is believed was swept into a rimaye (a crevasse formed where the top of a glacier joins the mountain) by the avalanche. A female climber was heliported in a serious condition to hospital in Sallanches. She had been under the snow for 90 minutes. Two Italian climbers were also on the route at 4100 meters.
Mont Blanc du Tacul. Photo: Daniel Carollo
Summer avalanches are not uncommon at altitude. Last August two climbers were killed by an avalanche on the same route. There have been 19 avalanche deaths in France since the 1st October 2006, one of the lowest figures recorded since 1970 thanks largely to stable snow conditions and poor ski conditions off-piste which have discouraged backcountry travellers.
Hi all, Thanks for the update and forwarding my message, such a shame for these climbers who die doing what they love. We plan on returning on the first week of september. hopefully the conditions will allow us to reach the sumit this time. All the best Matt (uk)