6 climbing French peak plummet, die

PARIS — Six French climbers died in a fall on France’s Mont Blanc after a night of snow and wind on western Europe’s tallest mountain, officials said Wednesday.

August is the height of the climbing season on Mont Blanc, where even in the warmest months storms can strike quickly. High winds buffeted the area where the group fell, said Jean-Baptiste Estachy, head of the Mont Blanc rescue squad. Estachy said five bodies were found Wednesday morning and the body of the sixth victim was later pulled out from the bottom of a crevasse.

The six included five experienced climbers and a guide. An investigation was underway.

The climbers were taking part in a two-week mountaineering course with the guide and were reported missing overnight when they failed to return to a refuge. They had been on a planned trip to the Aiguille d’Argentiere, a mountain that tops out around 12,800 feet.

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