Mont Blanc: narrowly missing a rockfall in the grand couloir (death gully)!

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In 2016, we set out to climb Mont Blanc via the 'Gouter' route (staying in the refuge). Heading there in September, we experienced a massive rockfall immediately after crossing the grand couloir (i.e., death gully) on the route to Mont Blanc's summit.
Read our article on what it's like to climb Mont Blanc: www.thetalesof...

[@jackcarl2772]

When I walked up to the base of the Matterhorn (I went no further up the mountain) I was surprised by how bad the rock was; the snow and the glaciers were in such very bad shape, too. The Hornli hut/hotel was overrun with crowds. Climbers were descending, one after another down the northeast ridge. Guides (and their clients) were strung out along the ridge leading back to the hut. While all this was going on I could hear rock falling down the east face. No one paid any attention. Then, when I was descending, below the hut, the trail came to a standstill. Turned out someone fell - and didn't survive (this was not on the mountain proper, but on the north facing slopes below the hut). This was 1979. I think these types of routes are going to stay popular, no matter what.

[@TalesofAdventure]

Really interesting to hear, Jack - thanks for sharing. We've attempted the Matterhorn twice from the Italian side (Liongrat route) unsuccessfully and had very similar experiences. We suspect there will be more teams that attempt Mont Blanc this year and a two-year hiatus, hopefully they'll be aware of the risks of ascending in the afternoon!

[@thies9512]

that's why you should cross it between 2am en 10am and even better, at the end of the season.

[@dougdavis8986]

plent : what about 130am?

[@kathyinwonderlandl.a.8934]

Sounds like great advice!

[@TalesofAdventure]

Agreed on all the above, Thies

[@TalesofAdventure]

@@kathyinwonderlandl.a.8934 Agreed!

[@kathyinwonderlandl.a.8934]

@@Koreusity69 not ideal

[@fergar9264]

I think the grand mullets route is safer , a bit harder but safer just to take a bit of care climbing the boulder to reach hut to stay over night

[@thedrvn]

100% it is. Ive done both albeit over 15 years ago and always recommend mullets as the best route for experienced climbers

[@TalesofAdventure]

We’re keen to try it again but with better research sometime..

[@TalesofAdventure]

@@thedrvn We're hoping to go back sometime albeit with better preparation.

[@crice1uk]

The seracs on the Mullet are no joke either, unless you go further out onto the north ridge of the done to avoid walking under them. Cross the Grand Couloir as early as you can and not in the afternoon.

[@vipperrt]

Be a man, stand up and take a hit.

[@brandonleesanders]

Lol

[@_MegasAlexandros_]

😄😄

[@andrewm.1623]

Rock man: I aint scared of sh----- Orphan child:He was a brave man.

[@halubalu9546]

You should try first, mate

[@Finno144]

sigma male

[@zimarron40]

A few yards up, during the descend one lady of my party felt over the cornise, the emergency svcs came right away to help and the helicopter took her to the hospital toavoid that crossing .1986

[@TalesofAdventure]

Would love to see any photos you've got of mountaineering in the 1980s..?

[@R3dShift]

Looks pretty damn lethal

[@TalesofAdventure]

Yes, not something I'm keen to replicate anytime soon!

[@phil9119]

Absurd time of day to cross the grand couloir, ridiculous and extremely dangerous.

[@TalesofAdventure]

Yep - a few lessons learned that day Jacob,

[@S-K69]

@@TalesofAdventure can you explain why it’s more dangerous at different times of day? As a non-mountaineer I don’t understand why rocks would be more likely to fall at specific times of day

[@michaelgrubb8896]

@@S-K69 The heat from the sun can cause movement of already unstable terrain, especially if it causes runoff from a glacier. There was a study done that showed 9am to 10am was the safest time to cross. There's a KZbin mini doc (~15 minutes long) about it.

[@jamesbee2006]

@@michaelgrubb8896 here's a what?

[@michaelgrubb8896]

@@jamesbee2006 supposed to say "there's."

[@098317]

That isn't really, "a massive rockfall". much bigger ones are common. Especially in the middle of the day after the sun melts the ice.

[@TalesofAdventure]

The GoPro's frame rate wasn't quick enough to register the vast amount of boulders due to them travelling so fast. The sound doesn't do a great job of capturing the overwhelming thumping as the rocks hit everything around us.

[@daveperry7719]

@@TalesofAdventure Thanks Chris. Glad I wasn't there. I'm not sure I'd have stayed around to video it either. ;-)

[@TalesofAdventure]

Nowhere else to move without being exposed, so thought it should be caught on camera for others to learn from,@@daveperry7719

[@Wez633]

@@TalesofAdventure or KZbin views

[@TalesofAdventure]

@@Wez633 did you learn something from the video - like when not to cross the couloir?

[@branni6538]

A badminton racket would sort that out. 🎾 😁 just stand up and don't miss!

[@TalesofAdventure]

Judging by our poor tennis serve, we should probably just stay low and move fast!

[@Andre-ep9yh]

You were too late , it's less dangerous early in the morning ...even if there is no zero risk in the mountains ...

[@NoCoverCharge]

Looks like a mountain of giant loose rocks what do you expect

[@TalesofAdventure]

Had to go and confirm this with our own eyes just to make sure!

[@sathuigangmei893]

Own choice but small advice millions of beautiful n safety place to roam on earth than keeping risk of life, by climbing Rocky Mountain

[@TalesofAdventure]

Yeah, we're going to focus on going further and faster (instead of higher) from here on in!

[@mahajir9]

If the rock hits you on one side you offer him the other. - Gandhi

[@TalesofAdventure]

That's a cool quote - added to the Idiom list, thanks!

[@kristine6996]

I suppose you really need to know the mountain very well.

[@TalesofAdventure]

Yeah, I was an in-experienced mountaineer then and learned a lot from the experience.

[@The_Situation]

@hawtchick69 with a name like that, you are 100% a dude that sits in his basement all day eating pizza that your mother brings to you. You've never let any mountain know who's boss.

[@The_Situation]

@hawtchick69 confirmed.

[@tristantzara9496]

@hawtchick69 kill confirmed

[@tristantzara9496]

@hawtchick69 get wasted

[@michaeldance5734]

I crossed it in snowy conditions which was scary enough that looks very scary indeed

[@TalesofAdventure]

Yeah, I don’t think I’d cross it in snow - or again anytime soon.. 🤦‍♂️

[@davidsomerville3890]

Best not to cross at 1.30 pm safer in the early morning,

[@TalesofAdventure]

Completely agree, big lesson learned on that day

[@nicolasbatchelor8006]

Far too late in the day!!!

[@dougdavis8986]

Nicolas Batchelor : this is why you are a batchelor.

[@TalesofAdventure]

You're completely correct - we should've approached a lot earlier in the morning!

[@AirNorthOne]

@@TalesofAdventure Im noob here. why is it safer in the morning?

[@tytorubio3271]

@@AirNorthOne because the rocks detach and fall down from the heat. If its still cold or freezing they more likely stay in place

[@seebluesea219]

Hey lucky ones. Just for curiosity: at what time of the day have you been there exactly?

[@R1ckyfrankl1n]

SeeBlueSea Clearly in the middle of the day hence why you get up early and cross as early as possible and before the sun heats everything. Idiots

[@robinwojcik2824]

@@R1ckyfrankl1n actually statistics have shown that between 9 and 10am is the best (less rock fall events)

[@TalesofAdventure]

We were there in the afternoon. As others have also alluded, it’s unwise to go there after the sun has risen and started to melt the ice.

[@TalesofAdventure]

That’s also true!

[@TalesofAdventure]

@@robinwojcik2824 It's contextual and based on previous rockfalls, temperature, time of year etc so the risk will clearly differ based on those variables.

[@alha5275]

Do you pack diapers? Is that something one packs?

[@TalesofAdventure]

😂😂😂🤔🧐

[@willthornton4391]

Criky sort of like a death gauntlet.

[@TalesofAdventure]

Yeah, this was a particularly hot year and poor time to be crossing it really

[@willthornton4391]

@@TalesofAdventure looked fun !

[@TalesofAdventure]

@@willthornton4391 it's debatable if the summit shot was worth the risk..

[@Marcel-Marcel]

How long does the actual crossing take?

[@TalesofAdventure]

Only a few seconds but that depends how much weight you’re carrying and how fast you can run!

[@srf2112]

Are those helmets or handkerchiefs?

[@alcyone9361]

I don't think it matters much.

[@TalesofAdventure]

Black Diamond helmets that didn't survive the next mountain, sadly!

[@lancebaptie2165]

didnt see a thing but dust

[@TalesofAdventure]

See earlier comments - frame rates on the GoPro didn’t record the small ones firing past us.

[@JT-uh6je]

These cameras are not made for speakers and noises

[@TalesofAdventure]

Agreed, but they're great for capturing your reaction when you narrowly avoid catastrophe..

[@Jane_Friday]

I don't understand why this route is still legally open. There are safer routes. Oh wait you need less luck for them, but more fitness and skill.

[@Viroidss]

free will

[@jnagtube]

What are you going to do, put a security guard up there? You cannot enforce the closure of nature and shouldn't try. The best approach IMO is to warn and inform. People who take this route know the risks and the people who have to rescue or retrieve know the risks as-well.

[@baileyayyy5085]

@@jnagtube Holy shit lmao why do people leave youtube comments like they know what they're talking about while also saying things that prove they have no idea what they're talkin about. Its cringe. If you dont know something about a subject just shut the fuck up.

[@TalesofAdventure]

People will choose and find their own way up whatever you put in their way. Finding a way is part of the draw, surely?

[@YnseSchaap]

Even in the "off" hours this place is dangerous, but where's the fun if you don't take a bit of risk

[@farmercologistc7039]

Exactly that, he had his cute little hat on so no biggie really.

[@TalesofAdventure]

@@farmercologistc7039 'Cute little hat' that's now in several pieces..

[@josephinebennington7247]

Er…so don’t do the Grand Couloir. Stats too high and probable, which you knew.

[@TalesofAdventure]

Agreed, Josephine - it’ll be the trois monts route next time

[@josephinebennington7247]

@@TalesofAdventure . At least you lived and learned. Bon chance, prochain fois.

[@TalesofAdventure]

@@josephinebennington7247 Agree, now to stop other people making the same mistake..

[@Sparky210-11]

Poor judgment and experience. Always and only cross during early morning when the upper part of the mountain is frozen and stable. Too many people cross too late in the day when the the snow/ice has melted causing the rockfall. Be smart and know the conditions and constantly evaluate the conditions when in the mountains.. it can and will save your life. Climb safe.

[@davegc3355]

did you guys take an extra set of nappies with you??? hahaha

[@TalesofAdventure]

I wish we had now!

[@jamesv.8209]

That was amazing!!!

[@adoonii4725]

stupid people

[@andyrob3259]

@@adoonii4725 stupid people more concerned with a selfie stick

[@TalesofAdventure]

@@andyrob3259 definitely no selfie stick - just a tethered GoPro..

[@TalesofAdventure]

@@adoonii4725 Many lessons learned from that experience!

[@elmafudd9703]

I can see why this is called death gully.

[@TalesofAdventure]

It’s not a place to just turn up to without any research, as we stupidly found out..

[@Kekar_Tariq]

It was August?

[@TalesofAdventure]

That time of year from what I can recall…

[@golfandhike5598]

I didn't see a rock fall. Did see some dust and heard the F bomb a lot.

[@TalesofAdventure]

Sadly the early GoPros didn’t record at high frame rates to capture the boulders tumbling past - so you’ll have to take the sound and the look on our faces as additional evidence of why crossing the gully at that time of day wasn’t such a good idea.

[@golfandhike5598]

@@TalesofAdventure Thank-you.

[@chrisvig123]

You can see the rocks in all the dust …they look small since they’re a bit further away

[@golfandhike5598]

@@TalesofAdventure I looked at the video more closely and did see rocks wizzing by. Glad you are all o.k.

[@TalesofAdventure]

@@golfandhike5598 welcome, we're currently editing the rest of the footage from that trip to give a bigger picture of how the expedition went.

[@lucamartini483]

Si passa, attraversa PRIMA , before, Apres 10.00 a.m.

[@TalesofAdventure]

100% agree (after doing the complete opposite of that!)

[@bbruce995]

it seems you are still alive because you have more to do in life

[@TalesofAdventure]

Quite possibly to show people how not to do it!

[@xrude7875]

why on earth would these fools do this ?

[@TalesofAdventure]

Ignorance, stupidity, poor planning - take your pick!

[@Blathnaid.-.]

This has nothing to do with sports anymore. It is arrogance and recklessness. There are alternative ways to kill oneself. No understanding. They put their lives on the line and think it's funny afterwards. It's not the adrenaline. Anyone who climbs there knows what they are getting into. I'm glad it went well. But those who need the thrill, get the danger.

[@TalesofAdventure]

No entirely true, we met people above 4000m metres dressed in sports kit and trainers trying to cross a crevasse. The whole thing was a big learning experience as you can see..

[@iansmith3261]

yeah i dont buy it...

[@TalesofAdventure]

What don't you buy, Ian?

[@bruteforce6352]

Zero sympathy for anyone who dies climbing this death trap!

[@TalesofAdventure]

Good to know you've got an opinion, well done on sharing it.

[@stirfrywok2927]

​@@TalesofAdventureI always wonder why people clearly not interested in climbing seem to be easily found commenting negatively on videos about climbing. I, for one, would love to have the honor of climbing that death trap someday, and I have huge respect for all those that try, successfully or not.

[@martavanello984]

Stevnu a ca...........gondon !

[@TalesofAdventure]

🤷‍♂️