Nine fatal falls on popular routes have underscored the risks of early summer climbing in the Alps this past weekend. Favorable weather drew crowds to high peaks amid melting snow and ice. It turned what should have been a celebratory start to the season into one of the deadliest weekends in recent times.
First, seven climbers died in separate incidents over roughly 24 hours from June 12 to 13. The tragedies stretched emergency services thin across the Aosta Valley, the Mont Blanc massif, and nearby peaks.
Three experienced mountaineers from Trentino fell about 400m on the north face of Gran Paradiso in Italy’s Aosta Valley. The victims set out from Rifugio Chabod but didn’t return as planned, and their families raised the alarm in the evening. The rescue teams recovered their bodies the following day. The group, close friends who shared a passion for mountains, were described by loved ones as well-prepared and familiar with the route.
Brother and sister die on Mont Maudit
In the Mont Blanc massif, a 24-year-old man and his 26-year-old sister from Savoie fell on the demanding Kuffner Ridge of Mont Maudit, a classic but exposed mixed route known for knife-edge sections and high commitment. A Slovak guide in the area heard rocks falling and contacted emergency services. Rescuers found the siblings dead. A separate group of three climbers fell in the same area but survived with injuries and were assisted by rescuers.
A 44-year-old skier lost his life after a severe fall on the Brenva Spur on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. His ski partner, who survived, witnessed the fall and alerted the authorities. However, nothing could be done to save the life of the victim.
Another climber died after a fall near Pic Tyndall on the Italian route of the Matterhorn, where his partner survived the incident.
Rescuers at the scene of the accident on Pasubio. Photo: Soccorso Alpino Veneto/Loscarpone
The toll increased on Sunday, June 14, when two climbers fell about 100m in the Sojo d’Uderle area on the Vicenza side of Monte Pasubio in the Italian Prealps, a subrange of the Alps, according to ANSA and local media reports. A third climber in their group was rescued while still roped to the face. Foggy conditions hampered initial efforts and complicated the rescue.
Snow melt and rockfall
Rescue services responded to multiple emergencies during the period. While the weather was generally stable, with clear skies, rapid snow melt, and rockfall have increased on technical routes this season. Experts note that warming temperatures are loosening permafrost and ice bonds, making even well-known routes more unpredictable in early summer.
Conditions can change rapidly, and what looks stable in the morning can become hazardous by afternoon, rescue teams have indicated. Authorities continue to stress the importance of proper preparation and equipment, thorough route research, and realistic assessment of personal limits, particularly on exposed terrain where retreat can be difficult. Many climbers this weekend appeared drawn by the lure of a perfect weather forecast after a long winter.
Rescue helicopter. Photo: ANSA
