In the heart of the Mont Blanc massif, a discreet gold rush has been unfolding in recent years. Crystals worth tens of thousands of euros have become accessible, hidden within crevices once covered by ice. This is a consequence of climate change, as glaciers retreat further each year.

Every summer, an increasing number of crystal-hunting mountaineers, known as “cristalliers,” scale the steep slopes of the Chamonix valley in search of “pockets.” These cavities harbor precious rock crystals, quartz, fluorite, and amethyst, shaped by geological forces over 15 million years. Often concealed at altitudes exceeding 3,500 meters, only the most daring climbers can reach these crystals. They do so at the cost of ever-increasing risks, as the permafrost melts and the mountainsides crumble…