PARIS, June 18 (UPI) -- Melted ice in a recent heat wave released rivers of garbage from Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, French media reported Friday.
About 20,000 mountain climbers tackle 15,770-foot-high Mont Blanc every year. A recent unseasonal spell of high temperatures melted the ice face, letting loose large quantities of refuse.
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Jean Marc Pellieux, mayor of Saint Gervais in the French Alps said after inspecting the mountain at 10,000 feet that the ice was yellow with climbers' urine and garbage.
The authorities in Haute Savoy launched an environmental campaign this week urging mountaineers to keep Mont Blanc -- well, blanc.
