French authorities are implementing new restrictions on day hikers visiting Mont Blanc, citing a significant increase in problematic behavior, including public defecation, littering, and feeding wildlife. The measures aim to control the growing number of tourists flocking to the popular hiking route around Western Europe's highest mountain.
Jean-Marc Peillex, mayor of Saint-Gervais and president of the Mont Blanc association of communes, stated that the "anything goes" approach is no longer acceptable. "Faced with these excesses, we are showing that the ‘anything goes’ approach is over," he told The Telegraph.
The Tour Du Mont Blanc, a 105-mile trek that crosses France, Italy, and Switzerland, has seen a surge in visitors. This year, over 90,000 hikers have reportedly completed the route, a substantial increase from 60,000 in 2022. Officials attribute this rise to the popularity of outdoor activities promoted on social media.
This influx has led to increased instances of what some officials describe as "high-altitude hijinks." Reports include hikers camping on private land, treating the wilderness as a toilet, and leaving behind waste. "In the unauthorised bivouac areas, we find toilet paper under every stone," said Pierre Arpin, manager of Les Chambres du Soleil hotel in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, France, to Le Monde.
Some visitors have also been observed feeding wild ibex, and others have reportedly used taxis to transport their luggage between mountain refuges or even traveled parts of the route by car. One accommodation manager noted that some hikers complained about the lack of amenities such as elevators or spas.
Starting next summer, hikers will be required to demonstrate proof of reserved accommodation to access certain areas. Camping outside designated sites will be prohibited. To encourage the use of official facilities, these sites will be supplied with toilet paper and water. The new regulations will also limit the type of bags permitted for hikers and restrict taxi use for luggage transport to specific hours.
Peillex emphasized that the intention is not to ban access but to bring it under control, questioning, "Where is it all going to stop if we do nothing?"
While seven French municipalities have agreed to the new rules, the cooperation of their Swiss and Italian counterparts remains uncertain, as some regional mayors argue that the increased tourism benefits the local economy. Similar issues have been reported at other popular European natural sites, such as Mount Snowdon in Wales, which has experienced overcrowding.