A Spanish climber has died and four others were injured when a cornice beneath them collapsed in the Alps. The accident happened on Castor Peak in the Monte Rosa massif, situated between Italy and Switzerland.
Initial reports were confusing and pointed to an avalanche on Sept. 9. However, rescuers later confirmed that the climbers fell from 4,061m when a snow cornice collapsed, Italy Today reported. The climbers were doing the popular Spaghetti Tour and stood on the fragile cornice edge because of poor visibility.
The Monte Rosa massif. The main peak with Dufourspitze is on the left and the Liskamm/Castor/Pollux/Breithorn group is on the right. Photo: Angela Benavides
The Spaghetti Tour
Thanks to its high concentration of peaks above 4,000m, the Monte Rosa Massif is popular among climbers and hikers. The Spaghetti Tour is a several-day trek across the massif, during which climbers attempt to reach the summits of a few peaks, depending on their preferences, fitness, and technical skills. The most popular goals are Breithorn, Castor, Pollux, Liskamm, and the main peak of Monte Rosa, the Dufourspitze (4,634m).
Peaks of the Monte Rosa massif and a possible tour across them. Map and route by Adventure Consultants
According to the rescue team’s report, a group of eight Spanish climbers was on descent from the summit of Liskamm. Between Feliksjoch (4,061m) and neighboring Castor, they walked too close to the edge and stepped on a cornice that gave way under their weight.
Bad weather prevented helicopters from reaching the accident site and rescuers from Aosta and Cervinia had to approach on foot from the Quintino Sella refuge. The rescue team took the dead climber to the mountain hut where a helicopter could pick up the body. The four injured climbers were taken to a hospital in Aosta.
A deadly summer in the Alps
This is the latest in a string of deadly accidents in the Alps this summer. Four climbers perished on the Italian side of Mont Blanc last weekend, three climbers died in two accidents on the Matterhorn, and three others lost their lives on Mont Blanc du Tacul.
