Consulate staff clean-up glacier

STAFF from the British Consulate in Marseille will be joining 100 other volunteers today to help pick up more than a tonne of litter left at France’s longest glacier, the Mer de Glace, near Chamonix.

The waste has been left during the past year by the site’s 500,000 annual tourists.

The French Alpine Club and Lafuma, an outdoor equipment specialist, have been organising the day-long clean-up at the 7km long and 200m deep glacier since 2008.

It is the first time that the British consulate has taken part. Teams from several mountain-based organisations such as the sustainable mountain development association Mountain Riders will also be there and have been helping out for several years.

A Lafuma representative told Connexion each year the team of volunteers collects 1.5 to three tonnes of waste, adding up to a total of 14 tonnes over the seven years.

The day is not open to the general public but every year Lafuma runs an online random draw, offering five people the chance to join in. The winners are also provided with a night of accommodation in Chamonix, a meal and the loan of the necessary mountain gear.

If you are interested in taking part, keep an eye out for the competition next year at lafuma.com

Photo: Sylenius/ Wikimedia Commons