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🇦🇷 Argentina /Health & Science

Argentine climbers fall on Mont Blanc route, one dies and another remains hospitalized

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Gabriel Ansiaume, a 39-year-old Argentine from Mendoza, died after falling while free climbing on the Aiguille du Peigne route near Mont Blanc.
  • His cousin and climbing partner was injured, underwent surgery and remains hospitalized in Sallanches.
  • Ansiaume was a winemaker whose death deeply affected Mendoza’s wine industry, according to colleagues and local media.

Gabriel Ansiaume, a 39-year-old winemaker from Mendoza, died after falling while free climbing on the Aiguille du Peigne route near Mont Blanc in France. His cousin and climbing partner survived the fall but remains in hospital.

slipped and fell into the Papillons couloir

· Chamonix High Mountain Gendarmerie PlatoonThe unit described how the climbing pair fell on the Mont Blanc route.

The two Argentines were climbing a rock face on a popular route toward one of the peaks of the Chamonix Aiguilles. The Chamonix High Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon said the pair “slipped and fell into the Papillons couloir.” Other climbers moving along the ridge found them.

Ansiaume died from the impact. His cousin was taken to the hospital in Sallanches, in the Haute-Savoie region, where he underwent surgery and continued his recovery. The fall happened during the descent, after the climb through the Mont Blanc area had proceeded without problems.

We are left with his irreplaceable human quality

· Ansiaume’s colleaguesThey described the impact of the winemaker’s death on Mendoza’s wine community.

Ansiaume had traveled to Europe for work and decided to climb during his visit. Friends called him “Rata,” and his death had a major impact on Mendoza’s wine community. He had built a recognized career as a winemaker and was developing the Contrabando wine line with his friend Federico Vargas Arizu at Bodegas Tierras Altas.

What we have always maintained is continuing to have fun, enjoying friendship, the creative way we work and create.

· Gabriel AnsiaumeHe described the philosophy behind the Contrabando wine project.

The project began in 2020. Ansiaume once recalled collecting grapes during the coronavirus lockdown, when he arrived at a farm and found nobody there. He also described the brand’s spirit as a combination of friendship, creativity and enjoyment. Vargas later paid tribute to him online, writing: “My soul brother, forever and always, eternal light of life. The embrace.”

My soul brother, forever and always, eternal light of life. The embrace.

· Federico Vargas ArizuHe paid tribute to Ansiaume after learning of his death.
About this summary

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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