The document discusses mountaineering issues facing the Mont Blanc mountain range, which straddles the borders of Switzerland, Italy, and France. It has become a major international tourist destination attracting over 5 million visitors annually. Climate change is causing glacier melt and making traditional routes inaccessible in summer. Visitor numbers have increased substantially, putting pressure on mountain refuges and trails. There are also increasing risks of rockslides and accidents. Solutions discussed include promoting safety, reducing pollution and waste, and developing more ecofriendly practices to balance sustainability with economic growth in the region.

1. The Mountaability Issues
facing the Mont Blanc
mountain range
Situation review
August 8, 2016

2. A unique location
‐ Straddles three borders
‐ Surrounded by three major cities:
12 million people
‐ Easily accessible

3. Switzerland
Italy
France

6. From a small
French village
to an
international
tourist
destination
3 centuries
Chamonix

7. The cradle of European mountaineering
Paccard and
Balmat
First ascent of
the Mont Blanc
1786

8. A mountaineering history book
Riccardo Cassin
Walker Spur
Grand Jorasse
1938

9. A theatre for mountaineering media coverage
1966 1982

10. A laboratory for mountaineering innovation

11. A microcosm where we can
encounter all the SSC issues
- Climate change and visitor numbers
- Promotion of new behaviours
- Preservation of high mountains for
the enjoyment of future generations

12. Climate change
Annual average temperature

13. 1916
2001
Glacier melt
- Traditional routes
inaccessible in
summer.
- Inaccessible first
pitches

14. Increasing Rockslide

15. Vanishing routes !
2005 2011

16. Visitor numbers
• 5 million visitors each year in
the Chamonix valley
• 32 mountain refuges
• 2 big cable cars on the French
and the Italian side

17. Aiguille du Midi
12,500 feet
500,000 visitors each year

18. Skyway Monte Bianco
11,500 feet
500,000 visitors each year

19. Tête Rousse refuge
Goûter refuge

20. Goûter refuge
The aiguille du Goûter
12 700 feet
Accidentology
Tête Rousse refuge
couloir traverse
The ridge

21. Victim nationality

22. Safety solutions

23. Pollution and waste
‐ Aerial flyover
‐ Waste

24. Pollution and waste
‐ Aerial flyover
‐ Waste

25. Bivouacking

26. Ecofriendly refuge

27. A paradox
Sustainability versus economic growth

28. Thank you for your attention