In the summer of last year, the renowned alpinist and mountain guide Christophe Profit removed metal posts that were used to secure the heavily frequented Goûter route on Mont Blanc. Now he has been charged with theft. He faces a fine of 4000 euros.
The Mont Blanc attracts thousands of mountaineers every year. Most of them climb the highest mountain in the Alps via the normal route and the Aiguille du Goûter. The town of Saint-Gervais installed iron bars around a crevasse at a point where the glacier was becoming increasingly difficult to cross. The French alpinist has at least two of them Christopher Profit removed last summer. He has now been charged with theft.
Avoid unnecessary risks
The alpinist and mountain guide justified his actions to the French media with the safety of less experienced mountaineers. He wanted to prevent amateur mountaineers without experience from taking unnecessary risks if an alternative route was possible, according to Profit.
His reasoning is controversial. Other alpinists are convinced that this type of permanently installed material increases safety on the much-used mountain.
The court wants to decide who is right by the beginning of June. Should Christophe Profit be found guilty, he would have to pay a fine of 4000 euros
Solo through the Dru West Face
The 62-year-old alpinist and mountain guide has made a name for himself as an alpinist worldwide, for example with his solo ascent of the 900-metre-high Dru West Face in 1982 or with his solo ascents of the three classic north faces (Eiger, Matterhorn and Grandes Jorasses) - in summer and winter made.
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