Weekend Toll Up to 5 on Mont Blanc
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CHAMONIX, France — A French climber was killed Sunday on Mont Blanc when he fell down a crevasse, bringing to five the number of deaths on Europe’s highest mountain over the weekend, rescue police said.
The deaths have marred celebrations in this French Alpine town to mark the 200th anniversary of the first ascent of the 15,770-foot mountain on Aug. 8, 1786, by Dr. Michel-Gabriel Paccard and his guide, Jacques Balmat.
The Frenchman slipped down a gaping crevasse while trying to cross the Mer de Glace, a gigantic glacier formed by the junction of the mountain’s four main glaciers.
Three West Germany climbers were killed Saturday when they plunged more than 1,600 feet while scaling the northwest face of the Aiguille Verte. Another West German fell to his death Saturday.
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