Mont Blanc Climbers Ignore Closures & Have to Pay for Helicopter Evacuation
14th August 2026
Two mountain huts have been closed on Mont Blanc and alpinists advised to come down the mountain due to the high danger of rockfall on popular climbing routes. NEW
Some ignored the instructions and then realised it was too dangerous and requested evacuation off the mountain.
This is usually free, but they were left to make their own way down or pay for their own evacuation.
The formal closure came into effect on August 11th with dozens of alpinists already high on the route.
32 climbers continued to the Gouter refuge and spent the night there.
We reported on the closures in this PlanetSKI article:
The hut is the final major stop before the summit push up Mont Blanc.
The Gouter route on Mont Blanc. Image c/o Wikipedia
Next morning, they changed their minds and requested a free helicopter evacuation by the French public rescue services, according to Aostasera.
The Gouter hut is beyond the high-risk rockfall zone, the Grand Couloir, and to descend they would have to cross it again.
The climbers feared falling rocks, they asked for the air evacuation.
Two Czech climbers died on the route at the Granc Couloir earlier this month.
The mayor of Saint-Gervais, Jean-Marc Peillex, refused their request after consulting with the the high-mountain gendarmerie.
Further details can be found on Explorersweb
Mont Blanc, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Earlier in the week Mayor Peillex said “it is up to all climbers, whether accompanied by guides or not, to fully grasp the gravity of the situation and abandon their climbing plans for the duration of this crisis.”
The mayor condemned the climbers’ actions as they requested a free rescue, at public expense, from a predictable risk they were aware of and had decided to take.
There was no medical emergency or life-threatening situations in the groups.
He stated that the Gran Couloir was now more stable with making a descent feasible.
After the consultations with the high-mountain gendarmerie, he authorised only private helicopter flights at the climbers’ expense.
Some took that option, while others descended on their own without difficulty.
Peillex argued that public resources should be reserved for genuine emergencies and that those who take calculated risks should bear the consequences.
Mont Blanc Massif, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Mountain guides from Courmayeur on the Italian side of the mountain have also stopped climbing many routes due to the unstable conditions caused by the hot temperatures this summer.
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