Climate change related processes affecting mountaineering itineraries, mapping and application to the Valais Alps (Switzerland)
Details
Download: 04353676.2022.2064651.pdf (6871.89 [Ko])
State: Public
Version: Final published version
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
State: Public
Version: Final published version
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_4C71FA6EE329
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Climate change related processes affecting mountaineering itineraries, mapping and application to the Valais Alps (Switzerland)
Journal
Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography
ISSN
0435-3676
1468-0459
1468-0459
Publication state
Published
Issued date
03/04/2022
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
104
Number
2
Pages
109-126
Language
english
Abstract
Climate change leads to deep modifications of high Alpine environments. Those modifications have significant consequences on mountaineering itineraries and make them technically more difficult and more dangerous. Although a growing number of studies have recently documented this issue, they only list the processes affecting the itineraries and do not document their characteristics. Therefore, the acquired data lack relevance to be spread and for prevention making among climbers. In the present study, on the basis of the processes identified in previous studies in the Mont Blanc massif, we developed a legend in order to map the processes related to climate change that affect the itineraries and modify their climbing parameters. Following the UNIL geomorphological legend and using the same color code, 21 symbols were defined to map 23 processes. In order to evaluate the applicability and interest of the legend proposed, we present a first application in the Valais Alps (Switzerland), based on 21 semi-structured interviews with local Alpine guides and hut keepers. The map then allowed to list the processes affecting each of the 36 itineraries studied. On average, an itinerary is affected by 9 different processes and 25% of the itineraries have greatly evolved, which means their ascent in summer cannot be recommended anymore because of climate change. More generally, this legend would provide a common methodological basis, destined to be completed within future studies and to be relevant beyond the European Alps. This basis would also ease the comparability and compilation of results from different future studies.
Keywords
Mountaineering, high mountain itineraries, climate change effects, mapping, Valais Alps
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
05/09/2022 8:52
Last modification date
12/07/2024 6:03