Climbing
The recent heat wave across Europe has had an unprecedented effect on the temperatures at the summit of Mont Blanc, Western Europe’s highest peak, where temperatures soared above freezing for 33 consecutive hours on August 10-11. According to the Agenzia Regionale Protezione Ambiente Valle d’Aosta (ARPA), the regional environmental agency, the automatic weather station at Colle Major at an altitude of 15,584 feet, recorded air temperatures above 0°C (32°F) from midnight on August 10 until 9 a.m. on August 11. The temperature data is an hourly average, measured by two different thermo-hygrometers installed within shading screens, which is in line with international standards.
Similar high-temperature values were recorded on August 5 for five consecutive hours and on July 18 and 30. However, temperatures above freezing for more than 24 hours had been unheard of at that altitude. This unprecedented stretch of above-freezing temperatures at such altitudes is raising concerns about the mountain’s long-term stability and the broader implications for the Alps.
Historically, Mont Blanc has seen its summit temperatures rise, but sustained periods above freezing at this altitude are rare. These recent records, coupled with the mountain’s historical peak temperatures, highlight a disturbing trend that could have profound effects on the region’s glacial structures and the ecosystems that depend on them. Mont Blanc is one of the busiest mountains in the world, with an estimated 40,000 climbers attempting the ascent each year. Each year, several hikers die during rockfalls. The high temperatures will increase the melting of permafrost, thus destabilizing the rocks on the summit and causing even more rockfalls. Two years ago, an almost 50-year-old mountain hut on Mont Blanc was destroyed by a rockslide.
The implications of such temperature changes extend beyond the immediate environmental impact. The rising temperatures could accelerate glacial melt, increase the risk of avalanches and rockslides, and disrupt the lives of those who rely on the Alps for tourism and agriculture. As climate patterns shift, the natural beauty and economic stability of this iconic region face unprecedented challenges. The 15,774-foot Mont Blanc, which straddles the borders of France, Switzerland, and Italy, is a symbol of alpine majesty and is widely considered to be the birthplace of modern mountaineering.
