Mont Blanc

Introduction

At 4,805.59 metres, Mont Blanc is the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe. Located on the border between Italy and France, it imposingly dominates the Aosta Valley on the Italian side and Haute Savoie on the French side, towering between the Courmayeur and Chamonix valleys. It is an integral part of the Graian Alps and represents a geographic and cultural symbol of extraordinary importance.

Description

Once known as 'Mont Maudit' - the Cursed Mountain - due to its often hostile climatic conditions and legends surrounding it, Mont Blanc has always enchanted and frightened explorers, travellers and mountaineers. The current name, which refers to the imposing presence of snow and ice that covers the mountain all year round, is said to have originated, according to an ancient legend, after a beggar who was generously welcomed by the locals prayed that the mountain would be freed of evil spirits: from then on, a blanket of snow descended from the sky, imprisoning them forever under the eternal white.
The first official ascent was made on 8 August 1786 by Jacques Balmat and Michel Gabriel Paccard, two inhabitants of Chamonix. This event is considered to be the birth of modern mountaineering. The climb was a memorable feat, marked by extreme cold, logistical difficulties and scientific uncertainty, but crowned with success. Only a few decades later, in 1808, Marie Paradis became the first woman to reach the summit, followed in 1838 by Henriette d'Angeville, who made the ascent without assistance. The first winter ascent took place on 31 January 1876 by Jean-Estéril Charlet, Sylvain Couttet and Isabella Straton, who also became the first woman to climb Mont Blanc in winter, a feat that still embodies the epic spirit of 19th century mountaineering.
Mont Blanc is in the centre of a spectacular geographical setting, rich in glaciers such as the Mer de Glace, the Brenva Glacier and the Glacier du Miage. The area's Alpine climate is severe: long, harsh winters, cool and often unstable summers. The surrounding environment is home to a fascinating biodiversity, with flora and fauna adapted to extreme altitudes, and preserves breathtaking landscapes that attract thousands of mountain enthusiasts, hikers, ski mountaineers and climbers from all over the world every year.
Aclimbing to the summit of Mont Blanc is possible via several routes. The most popular route is the **Normal French Route**, also known as the *Voie Royale*, which starts from Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, reaches the Nid d'Aigle, the Tête Rousse Refuge and then the Goûter Refuge, from where you continue to the summit via the Dôme du Goûter and the Vallot Bivouac. On the Italian side, on the other hand, you can ascend via the **normal Italian route** (or via Ratti), which starts in Courmayeur and crosses the Gonella hut before also joining the French side towards the summit. A third option, more technical and reserved for experienced mountaineers, is the **via dei Trois Monts**, which starts at the Aiguille du Midi and touches Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit before the final effort towards the summit.
Mountaineers are supported by numerous support points: the Goûter hut (3.835 m), the highest guarded refuge in the French Alps, the Tête Rousse Refuge (3,167 m), an excellent alternative for those who prefer a slower progression, and the Gonella Refuge (3,071 m) on the Italian side, an ideal starting point for the Ratti route. Higher up, the Bivacco Vallot (4,362 m) offers emergency shelter in case of bad weather. The Rifugio Torino (3,375 m), which can be reached by the Mont Blanc Skyway, is also popular as a base for hikes and ascents on the Italian and French sides.
In addition to its geographical and sporting value, Mont Blanc is a cultural and spiritual reference point for the local populations. For the Valdostan and Savoyard communities, it has represented a majestic, almost mystical presence for centuries. Its snow-capped peaks are the protagonists of tales, legends, religious and identity symbols. It is no coincidence that the mountain is also at the centre of a heated international debate about its exact territorial delimitation, demonstrating its enormous symbolic importance.

Information

Quota: 4810m
Alternative name: Mont Blanc
Mountain group: Mont Blanc Massif
First ascent: 08/08/1786
First ascenders: Jacques Balmat, Michel Gabriel Paccard
First winter ascent: 31/01/1876
First winter climbers: Isabella Straton, Jean Charlet, Sylvain Couttet