The massif is further threatened by urbanization equipment and helicopter overflights

The Mayor of Saint-Gervais, Jean-Marc Peillex, which the municipality is home to the highest peak of Europe, took the opportunity of the holding of the national Council of the mountain last week to expand its campaign "The mountain pure", launched in 2004. According to elected officials, about 30,000 people try, each year, access to the Summit of mont Blanc and this choose result number of nuisance as "stacking of the climbers in the shelters with its limit, the security", the lack of sewers and waste essaimés along the ascent. To address this, the Mayor proposed to control access, either by an eco-tax, the issuance of a permit to climb, so "to avoid a disaster", even though he was aware of disturb in tackling "the taboo of the mountain area of freedom".

"Today the ascent of mont Blanc is sold with packages and at low prices in many countries of the former Eastern bloc," said Jean-Marc Peillex." Tomorrow, how will when tourism markets will open actually to continents very populated the India or Asia 50,000 per year 100,000 This is not tolerable.

The use of the emergency

Another phenomenon more undercover, according to elected officials, the use by climbers mountain rescue, who remains free. "If it is undeniable that the relief is within the competence of the public service, and therefore falls within the free abuse, i.e. the use of the helicopter-taxi within them of unconsciousness and must be paid by their authors", denounces it. In the Mont Blanc massif, the number of calls is passed, according to the doctor Cauchy, emergency physician at the hospital in Chamonix, 15 calls a day there is ten years from 800 today. Data qualified by the Mayor of Chamonix, citing statistics of high mountain gendarmerie platoon, who said that if the number of calls increased, the number of interventions, he has not varied.

The mayors of mountain, as professionals, are playing on the meaning of Jean-Marc Peillex. "The debate is perhaps media correct but it does not reflect the reality of problems", said Eric Fournier, Deputy Mayor of Chamonix. From real estate speculation, to transport issues, degradation of the landscape, estate, the management of the tourist flow aloft seemed secondary, since only 1 of tourists practice mountaineering and 15-20 hiking. This is why the town of Chamonix has opted for a "policy of prevention and information" through the high mountain Office. According to Eric Fournier, "establish a numerus clausus would be contrary to the spirit of the mountain and, worse still, would be ineffective because source of perverse effects, notably through marketing channels, such as Everest." A view shared by Philippe Imbert, responsible of the Green Mountain Wilderness association: "We advocate a culture of preservation, responsibility and freedom of access." The massif is further threatened by urbanization, equipment and helicopter overflights. "On the other hand, considers positive,"in terms of awareness", the cry of warning of the Mayor of Saint-Gervais. At the same time, the French Alpine Club, first Federation of mountain with acceding 88.500, leads an action to the antipodes. This summer, he launched a campaign "to boost the attendance of its sanctuaries", with a reduction of 50 of the rates for some.