Massive Rockfall Near Mount Blanc in Chamonix Alps

Earlier this week, a big piece of the south face of Trident du Tacul on Mont Blanc came crashing down.

The rockfall occurred close to the Grand Capucin, one of the Alps’ most famous features for hard climbing.

A number of classic rock climbs were destroyed in the rockfall, which happened at night a few hours after climbers had ascended it.

Routes like Lépiney, an eight-pitch 5.10 and Les Intouchables, a classic eight-pitch 5.12. Les Intouchables was bolted by one of the Alps legendary early free climbers, Michel Piola, in 1988, with partner H. Bouvard.

Mountain guide Enrico Bonino was on the peak the day before it fell down and told planetmountain.com, “On a mountain such as the Trident du Tacul you don’t really expect rockfall like this, also because these ‘satellites’ are a symbol for solid rock in Mont Blanc massif.

“It is a obvious warning of climate change, that has come after an extremely hot August and the last snowfall that took place two days ago. It’s a warning that should make all alpinists stop and think, beginners and experts alike.”

The rockfall happened once month after a rockfall on the classic Cosmiques Arete, read about it here.

Watch this clip of Fabrizio Fratagnoli sending the classic crack pitch of Les Intouchables by Matteo Della Bordella.