Mont Maudit, a popular climb on Mont Blanc Massif. Wikimedia Commons photo.
According to a recent story in the RFI, the bodies of three mountaineers were recovered following an avalanche on Mont Maudit in the French Alps this week. In the last seven days, 12 people have died in various mountaineering and extreme sports accidents in the French Alps. Mont Maudit—which translates to "Cursed Mountain"—stands at 14,649 feet, and is a part of a popular three-mountain route to the summit of Mont Blanc.
The trio consisted of a 50-year-old German guide and his two clients, a 33-year-old British-Polish climber and a 32-year-old Slovakian woman.
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The group was hit by large blocks of ice after an ice cliff collapsed high on the mountain, reports The Guardian. The women suffered serious head injuries, suggesting that they were killed during the initial ice slide.
The body of the guide was recovered early Thursday following the recovery of the women on Wednesday night. Recovery of the bodies was delayed due to a two nearby groups of climbers incorrectly reporting that no one was caught in the slide.
The Mont Blanc massif is a popular destination for hikers and climbers, but is Europe's deadliest mountain range, with an estimated average of 100 deaths per year.
In addition to the victims mentioned above, RFI reports that four more individuals perished in various extreme sports related accidents in the last week.
Bernard Cazeneuve, the French Interior Minister, has called on mountain climbers and vacationers to exercise "the greatest caution" in light of the number of recent deaths.
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stash member Katie Cooney
Skier, photographer, dog lover, adventure seeker. Native of the land of cheese and beer, sometimes called Wisconsin.