"To Climb Mont Blanc, Pay 20 Million Won Including Body Recovery Costs"…French Mayor Creates Deposit Requirement

Glaciers Rapidly Melting Due to Climate Crisis, Surrounding Trail Environment Deteriorates
Accident in Italy Causes 6 Deaths from Glacier Collapse

A glacier at the summit of the Dolomiti mountain range, a branch of the Northern Italian Alps, has collapsed. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Gun-chan] The French city overseeing Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps, has set a plan to charge climbers a risk deposit of 15,000 euros (about 20 million won).

According to a report by CNN on the 5th (local time), the French city overseeing Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the European Alps, has decided to charge climbers a risk deposit of 15,000 euros (about 20 million won) as the Alpine glaciers are rapidly melting due to abnormal high temperatures and heatwaves.

According to the report, the risk deposit was calculated by combining the average rescue cost of 10,000 euros (about 13.3 million won) and the cost of recovering victims' bodies of 5,000 euros (about 6.6 million won).

Jean-Marc Pelex, mayor of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, explained the purpose of introducing the deposit policy, saying, "There are many irresponsible climbers risking their lives on Mont Blanc, which has become more dangerous due to the heatwave." He added, "We cannot allow French taxpayers to bear these costs," and said, "(Climbers) are carrying death in their backpacks."

The reason for introducing the deposit policy is that the glaciers are rapidly melting due to the climate crisis, worsening the environment around the trails. Last winter, Europe experienced low snowfall, and this summer's record-breaking heatwave has accelerated glacier melting. According to the BBC on the 4th of last month, on the 3rd, a glacier chunk collapsed at the summit of Marmolada (3,343m), the highest peak of the Dolomites in northern Italy, resulting in at least six deaths and 19 missing persons. Mayor Pelex explained that the deposit is intended to cover rescue and body recovery costs in case of accidents caused by glacier collapses like this.

Mayor Pelex has actively voiced concerns about climber safety and control, regularly recommending that climbers equip safety gear before climbing. He recently warned climbers to be cautious, informing them of the possibility of falling rocks due to abnormal high temperatures and drought. He also expressed the position that the popular route called the 'Royal Way,' which leads to the summit of Mont Blanc, should be closed to passage.

However, there are opposing views regarding the plan to collect the risk deposit. Roberto Lota, mayor of Courmayeur, an Italian resort town on the opposite side of Mont Blanc, stated to local media, "The mountain is not private property," and added, "If a trail is deemed dangerous, it is better to control access."

Some of Mont Blanc's popular trails are already closed. According to the British daily The Guardian on the 31st of last month, due to the abnormal high temperatures continuing since May, Europe's glaciers are rapidly melting, leading to the control of some popular trails on the Alps' most popular peaks, the Matterhorn (4,478m) and Mont Blanc (4,809m).