UKC

Fatalities below the Guardian couloir this morning.  Another reminder that seracs are potentially lethal even on standard routes.

https://www.lenouvelliste.ch/valais/bas-valais/entremont-district/val-de-ba...

Sad news

Thanks for sharing 

Cruelly ironic that this route is favoured over the old voie normal, the corridor, now almost abandoned due to its serac danger. https://www.camptocamp.org/waypoints/179198/fr/grand-combin#swipe-gallery

yes very true.  Although that's still the way down on skis for most people as the Guardien couloir is too steep usually to ski and needs at least one ab.

Similar situation above the Grand Mulets where the climb via the plateaus used to be regarded as a suicide mission but in the last few years has become safer (I really hope saying this this isn't upsetting the mountain gods).  This year the old corridor route on MB is also back in fashion.

I can not understand why this side of the mountain constitutes the normal route (unless skiing), rather than from the cabane de Valsorey .... true a bit loose (classic Swiss mountain stuff) but no real serac or glacier risks... ???

Bit of a pain cayying your skis up the Meitin ridge, Wayne!!! But yes, I agree with you, and for what it's worth thought it was excellent, and not that loose if you stayed smack on the route.

I dont think many people do the Grand Combin in summer these days on foot from the Panossière.  In contrast if conditions are ok (and thanks to the guardian's quirky Facebook posts) the hut is rammed for the short window when it's do able on skis.  I did the Meitin ridge in 2020 and agree I thought it was pretty solid (for the Valais).  Lots of bolts on it now perhaps they are holding it together.  Incidentally there is a nice new ish abseil line down towards the Chanrion if you want to do the full traverse.

Good photo of the seracs on the north side here:

https://www.camptocamp.org/outings/1425830/fr/combin-de-grafeneire-couloir-...