Tragedy on Mount Dolent

© Wibble Wibble
Four Dutch climbers from the same family have perished in an accident on Mont Dolent, in the Mont Blanc Massif. The four, from Almere in the Netherlands, were a Father, Piet Germs (55) and his two daughters, Els (23), Karin (16) and son Mark (20) who were all experienced climbers.

The accident occurred on the Normal Route on Mont Dolent, on the only delicate section - the steep slope above col 3558. Reports suggest that the father Piet fell and then the children were pulled off one by one. The tragedy was witnessed by the mother of the family, Ada de Jong, who had been with the party but had retreated earlier and was watching the party when they fell. She was taken to hospital in shock.

Read Luca Signorelli's assessment of the route and conditions on this thread


This post has been read 30,334 times

Return to Latest News


25 Jul, 2008
With respect to the family. I'm convinced that mountaineers should not rope up if they do not place protection. Assuming they hadn't.
25 Jul, 2008
I'd imagine the route they chose involved glacier travel, in which case climbing roped but without protection is essential. Much alpine climbing involves being roped and taking running belays on rock spikes etc. Equally, the ropes could be for giving the children confidence, just unfortunate that in this instance had tragic consequences
25 Jul, 2008
what lessons can be drawn for someone heading out to the alps? untie if there is no protection? use ice screws on steep ground? used deadmen on steep soft snow?
25 Jul, 2008
That it's potentially dangerous. All your suggestions are OK if time allows - but speed is the essence of safety. Sometimes, things go wrong. Tragic, sad, but sadly inevitable. There again, without those tragedies there would be no true adventure and the Alps would lose their compulsion for many of us.
25 Jul, 2008
I short-roped a beginners on the Matterhorn, we moved together. On the descent he slipped and I pulled him up short - we were not pitching it. Without being tied together he would have gone all the way to the bottom! Chris
More Comments
Loading Notifications...
Facebook Twitter Copy Email