TWO Powys men say they are lucky to be alive after a charity trek to summit one of the highest mountains in Europe took a dramatic and dangerous turn.
Dewi Evans and Daniel Hartford, farmers and friends who both live near Llanwrtyd Wells, planned to scale Mont Blanc in July to raise money for two charities and to mark Dewi turning 40.
However, after successfully climbing Gran Paradiso, in the Italian Alps, during a week-long stay in France and Italy, the duo got into difficulty while ascending the seventh highest peak in Europe, Mont Blanc, when they got caught in a terrifying rockfall.
Dewi said rocks and boulders “from the size of footballs to fridge freezers” cascaded down upon them as they crossed a notorious area known as the Grand Couloir, renowned as an accident black spot in dry conditions.
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Their ascent was abandoned but the pair still had to trek back across the Grand Couloir, which is when Dewi revealed he slipped, with only his ice axe saving him from a 600ft drop.
“That’s our Mont Blanc summit attempt over and to say it didn’t go to plan is an understatement,” Dewi wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 31.
“As we made our way up to the second hut at 5am this morning, we had to cross something called the Grand Couloir that is notorious for fatal rock fall.
“We were told that it’s been very quiet this season and so we made our crossing with quiet confidence.
“As Daniel and I were halfway across there was an enormous crack that echoed above and before we knew it we were getting rained on by rocks and boulders.
“By the grace of god we made it across unscathed; I still don’t know how considering the density and velocity of the boulders.
“The guides decided that the heat had made it too dangerous to continue and so we got the hell out of there.”
Speaking after his lucky escape, Dewi added: “We were told it was the worst rock fall to come down in 20 years and the closest to being a disaster in 5,000 summit attempts.
“There were five of us actually crossing the Grand Couloir as the rocks began to drop, ranging from the size of footballs up to the size of fridge freezers. Five of us crossed without a scratch which was a miracle.
“As the guides decided that it was too dangerous to continue, we than had to dig deep and go back across to get down, but as the small ledge had been destroyed by the rock fall, as I crossed back over I slipped off and managed to get my ice axe in to avoid falling down a 600ft drop.”
The duo, who both farm in the Llangammarch Wells area, warmed up for Mont Blanc by climbing Gran Paradiso during the first part of their trip, summiting its 4,061 metres on Sunday, July 28.
At 4,809m, Mont Blanc is the tallest mountain in western Europe, the seventh tallest in Europe, and the highest outside the Caucasus mountains.
Dewi wanted something epic to do to mark turning 40, while there was also a more serious side to the trip too. He has been raising money for Cancer Research Wales, after wife Lucy was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year.
Daniel, 41, has been raising money for the Wales Air Ambulance as he knows first-hand just how vital the service is. Both his mum and dad have needed it in England following separate incidents.
You can still aid Dewi and Daniel’s causes by donating at their JustGiving pages. Visit Dewi’s at https://shorturl.at/X3vfA and Daniel’s at https://shorturl.at/SNEgu.
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