Gaëlle Cavalié found alive below the summit of Aiguille Verte

Four days and four nights, light hypothermia and a massive fright. This is the outcome, most certainly positive, of the "adventure" of French alpinist Gaëlle Cavalié who had been reported missing on Thursday 16 May and who was found alive on Saturday 18 May circa 100m below the summit of Aiguille Verte in the Mont Blanc mountain chain.

The 21-year-old had set off on Tuesday 14 May with the aim of soloing Couloir Couturier up the North Face of Aiguille Verte, but during the ascent a sudden storm pinned her down and the alarm was raised two days later when all traces of her had been lost. Due to poor weather the rescue operations were forced to wait for the first decent weather window and, after a short fruitless flight on Friday, the helicopter took off early on Saturday morning to check the face. And locate the alpinist just below the summit.

According to the first accounts Cavalié climbed off route and, too exhausted to continue, she dug a snow hole and remained there until the rescuers arrived. An ordeal which lasted 96 hours, without bivy gear but fortunately with a beautiful, happy ending.