A climber’s frozen body was found on Mont Blanc Massif, France. This climber had been missing for 32 years. His body was located by two climbers on the Talèfre glacier last week. The do not know the cause of death. It took authorities no time to ID this body.
“We identified him straightaway. He still had his ID papers on him, and all his equipment, including his skis.” – Captain Patrick Ribes of the Chamonix gendarmerie rescue service
Patrice Hyvert was a 23-year-old aspirant French climbing guide in March, 1982. Patrice had planned on a solo ascent and ski descent on the Nant Blanc face of the Aiguille Vert of the Mont Blanc Massif, France. His plan was to ski the Couturier corridor. He did not return.
A big storm hit the alps on March 1st, 1982. The storm strong enough to cause another climber who set out at the same time as Patrice, Jean-Marc Boivin, to have to be rescued by helicopter. Jean-Marc was headed to the Grands Chamroz, got trapped by the storm and had to be rescued two days after the storm cleared.
Patrice wasn’t afforded the same luxury. Extensive rescue efforts were never able to find Patrice.
Patrice’s 82-year-old father, Gérard, was hit hard by the discovery of his son’s body. He described it as a “second death.”
“I can’t say that it came as a relief. I would have preferred him to have stayed up there.” – Gérard Hyvert told Le Parisien
Patrice’s ashes will be scattered at the place he was found.
On average, 70 people die in the French Alps each year.
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