The French mayor who once campaigned to force Mont Blanc climbers to pay €15,000 in advance to cover rescue and funeral costs is now charging two climbers with violations that could cost them €150,000 each.
Jean-Marc Peillex mayor of the village of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains filed charges against two climbers who spent nine days on the mountain, including a sleepover at the summit, and posted a YouTube video bragging about the feat.
Peillex pointed out that camping in the Mont Blanc Natural Habitat Protection Area has been banned since 2020, and that a one-year jail term could go along with the fines. He told TV interviewers that “They played with fire and they got burned.”
The two climbers said they knew there were restrictions, but not that they banned camping.
