An Israeli climber attempting to reach the summit of Mont Blanc in the French Alps fell off a cliff after apparently taking a different route to avoid rockfalls.
The deceased, Stas Davidov, 55, was a resident of Ariel in Samaria, Israel, and worked for the city’s environmental protection department.
Stas was part of a group of six climbers ascending the Gouter Corridor route towards Mont Blanc’s summit on Tuesday, 8th August.
Falling rocks forced him off his intended path, leading to a fall from a height of almost 10,000 feet (nearly 3,000 metres).
Rockfalls become a growing problem in the Alps as melting permafrost which is the glue that often holds many peaks together is starting to melt, causing instability and more frequent rockfalls.
No other injuries were reported among the group.
Stas had prior experience in challenging mountain climbing, having shared a photo from Mount Kazbek in Georgia four years earlier.
He had reportedly attempted to climb Mont Blanc two years ago but had to cancel due to weather conditions. This time, he made a determined return for a final ascent.
The Israeli Embassy in France is coordinating with Stas’ family to repatriate his body to Israel for burial.
Survived by his wife, son, and grandson, Stas’s death occurred in a region prone to rockfalls, especially during the drier seasons.
This year has reportedly seen eight reported fatalities on Mont Blanc.
