Climber Escapes Dangerous Rock Slide on Mont Blanc

Italian climber Pietro Cosimo filmed a frightening rockslide on Mont Blanc in France on July 31. Cosimo was descending Mont Blanc, having just passed the Couloir du Goûter, often called the "death channel," when the rocks began to tumble down the snow-covered slope. Fortunately, no one was injured in the event, but the footage highlights why traversing the couloir is often compared to Russian roulette. "We had just crossed the death canal and were returning from Mont Blanc on the normal French route with other mountaineers, and a minute and a half later, all hell broke loose," Cosimo shared in the Alpinisme Massif du Mont Blanc Facebook Group. The couloir is known as one of the most hazardous sections of the classic French route to Mont Blanc. This corridor, which links the Nid d’Aigle and Goûter huts, is notorious for its high number of fatal accidents. Between 1990 and 2017, 102 people lost their lives here, and 230 others were injured. In recent years, heatwaves have increased the dangers of this passage due to more frequent rockslides caused by melting ice. Discussions have been held about building a tunnel to help prevent unnecessary deaths. The Petzl Foundation has been researching ways to reduce fatalities on this popular climbing route, considering options like an alternate path or constructing a tunnel. Mont Blanc is one of the world's busiest mountains, with around 40,000 climbers attempting the ascent annually. Experts suggest starting the climb early, as a study from June 2020 indicated that crossing the couloir before 10:00 a.m. is safest. This led to changes in the tramway schedule to facilitate earlier ascents of Mont Blanc.