A 33-year-old mountaineer from Patras lost his life in the Alps, and the tragic news has spread sorrow throughout the city of Achaia. The man reportedly lost his balance and fell into the void, below the Goûter refuge, at an altitude of 3,835 meters. French media report that the experienced alpinist was killed after falling in the upper section of the Goûter corridor, which is considered one of the most dangerous points on the route to the summit of Mont Blanc.
It should be noted that Mont Blanc, at 4,809 meters altitude, is the highest peak in the Alps and one of the most “deadly” in the world. To conquer the summit, climbers must pass through the Grand Couloir du Goûter on the normal route.
The corridor of death
The Grand Couloir du Goûter has the nickname “Death Couloir” as more than 100 climbers have lost their lives there. Rockfall is considered one of the main factors that makes the Grand Couloir du Goûter one of the most dangerous areas in the Alps.
In the corridor of death, 102 fatal accidents have been recorded from 1990 to 2017, which means almost 4 deaths annually. This is a classic mountaineering route that leads climbers through some of the most spectacular and diverse terrain in the Alps.
From glacier crossings to rock climbing and sharp ridges, this route presents the full spectrum of high-altitude mountaineering in the Alps. Each section has its own character and challenges, creating a journey that is as much about experiencing the route through this incredible landscape as it is about conquering the summit.
Climbers describe the Grand Couloir as a steep, rocky gully that cuts through the mountain’s defenses like a natural highway, with a deadly reputation. It should be noted that in the corridor of death, everything from pebbles and stones to refrigerator-sized boulders fall at unpredictable times.
