Little snow cover and glaciers melting at an alarming rate in Europe’s heatwaves have put some classic Alpine hiking routes off-limits. Mountain guides have also refrained – reportedly for the first time in a century – from offering tours up the classic route to the Jungfrau peak in Switzerland. “There are plenty of other things to do, but usually when people want Mont Blanc, they want Mont Blanc,” Marlier said. But despite the challenges, he voiced confidence that guides would find solutions, seeking out alternative routes to keep showing off Alpine splendours. “Resilience is really in the mountain guides’ DNA,” as is adaptability, he said.
