How the death of glaciers is changing mountaineering

FOR SOME TIME NOW, mountaineers have been sounding the alarm about the threat of climate change to those who walk and climb in the high mountains. Serious rock falls are becoming more common as permafrost melts: collapsing rock faces have destroyed famous Alpine climbs such as the Lepiney and Les Untouchables in recent years, and 93 of the routes in Gaston Rebuffat’s classic book have been affected by climate change. Just as this issue was going to press, Alpine mountain guide associations decided to stop guiding clients on classic routes in a host of regions, including Chamonix, Courmayeur, Cervinia, Lauterbrunne and Grindelwald.