Big Rockfall on Chamonix’s Aiguille du Midi
Watch two rockfalls that have taken place this week during a hot and dry few days of weather
The Alps are currently in a heat wave, which is leading to dozens of big rockfalls on famous peaks throughout the region. In the past few days, large rockfalls have happened on Aiguille du Midi and Mount Pelvoux.
The Aiguille du Midi rockfall took place near two famous alpine climbs, the Frendo Spur and the Mallory Route. It’s unknown at this time how much of either route was affected.
And on Mount Pelvoux in the Ecrins range, a big rockfall buried a popular trail that leads to hut. Several other huts in the area had already been closed this summer due to rockfall hazard. The rockfalls have destroyed popular trails and cut off once-reliable streams used for drinking water.
Watch both rockfalls below and follow glacier specialist Melaine Le Roy on X for regular climate-related news from the Alps. Earlier this year, a story called ‘How Climate Change is Reshaping the Alps’ was published on BBC, read it here.
Huge rock avalanche on 21st August in Celse Nière Valley, Ecrins massif, as seen from the Pelvoux hut 🔥
This occurred in the Pelas Verney couloir, an iconic and deep north facing rectilinear trench.
Source area around 3100 m below brèche Victor Chaud.
Vidéo PGHM Briançon pic.twitter.com/b3mtsuQ9Qa— Melaine Le Roy (@subfossilguy) August 23, 2023
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