Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco also known as "La Dame Blanche" (French for "the white lady") is a mountain in the Alps. With its 4,808 m summit, it is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe. The mountain lies between the regions of Aosta Valley, Italy, and Haute-Savoie, France. The location of the summit itself is a subject of controversy between the two countries, as each tends to place it within its own boundaries on maps. Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco (French and Italian respectively meaning white mountain) is the highest mountain in the Alps and in Western Europe.[1] It rises 4,810 m (15,781 ft) above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence. It is also sometimes known as "La Dame Blanche" (French, the white lady). The mountain lies between the regions of Aosta Valley, Italy, and Haute-Savoie, France. The location of the summit is on the French-Italian border but French cartographers place it within France's boundaries on maps. It is claimed by Italian sources that at a convention between France and the Kingdom of Sardinia, in Turin (1861), and in particular on the maps[2] joint to the convention, the border was fixed on the highest point of Mont Blanc, the south east ridge to Monte Bianco di Courmayeur wholly within Italy, and that this was the last official definition of this border. The two most famous towns near Mont Blanc are Courmayeur, in Aosta Valley, Italy, and Chamonix, in Haute-Savoie, France — the site of the first Winter Olympics. A cable car ascends and crosses the mountain from Chamonix to Courmayeur. Begun in 1957 and completed in 1965, the 11.6 km (7¼ mi) Mont Blanc Tunnel runs beneath the mountain between these two countries and is one of the major trans-Alpine transport routes. The Mont Blanc Massif is popular for mountaineering, hiking, skiing and snowboarding.
The first recorded ascent of Mont Blanc was on 8 August 1786 by Jacques Balmat and the doctor Michel Paccard. This climb, initiated by Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, who gave a reward for the successful ascent, traditionally marks the start of modern mountaineering. The first woman to reach the summit was Marie Paradis in 1808. Now the summit is ascended by an average 20,000 mountaineer-tourists each year and could be considered an easy, yet long, ascent for someone who is well trained and used to the altitude. This impression is reinforced by the fact that from l'Aiguille du Midi (where the cable car stops), Mont Blanc seems quite close, being merely 1,000 m (3,300 ft) higher. Whilst seeming deceptively close, La Voie des 3 Monts route (known to be more technical and challenging than other more commonly used routes) requires much ascent and decent before the final section of the climb is reached and the last 1000m push to the summit is under-taken. However, every year the Mont Blanc massif takes many victims, and in peak weekends (normally around August) the local rescue service flies an average of 12 missions, mostly directed towards people in trouble on one of the normal routes of the mountain. These are courses that require knowledge of high-altitude mountaineering, a guide (or at least a veteran mountaineer), and proper equipment. It is a long course that includes delicate passages and the hazard of rock slides. Also, at least one night at the refuge is required to acclimatize to the altitude (the summit is almost 5 km (3.1 mi) above sea level); less could lead to altitude sickness and possible death.
Mont Blanc is a favorite Quebec ski vacation and resort hotel destination. Famous for great value and great skiing, Mont Blanc has loads of Winter fun including the Laurentian - Mont Tremblant region's 2nd largest ski mountain, over 40 ski trails, a variety of onsite ski-in/ski-out condominiums, a rustic ski hotel, late night mountain snowshoeing, snowboarding parks, ski lessons, kids magic carpet and bunny trails. Mont Blanc's Ski Hotel and Resort is now a great four season destination too. Our ski lodging and summer facilities now include new mountainside, lakeside accommodations, spa facilities including 2 pools, hot tubs, saunas, steam baths and massage services. Kids of all ages have so much to do... The Mont Tremblant / Laurentian region's only giant indoor play park (Jungle Magique), beach, lake, kayaks, water trampoline and playground. Mont Tremblant / Laurentian region and all at a price families can afford. Mont Blanc has a wide variety of rooms and packages including complete hotel resort packages for short getaways, full vacation weeks and even long term condo rental. All of our laurentian hotel and condominium rental and sale accommodations are clean and comfortable ranging from 3-star to 4-star in price and refinement. All of our hotel and condo packages come with a tremendous number of on-site amenities including access to private beach, lake, 2 pools, hot tubs and our famous Jungle Magique indoor play park. No Quebec ski resort would be complete without great slopeside accommodations. See our ski condo and hotel page for the best deals in the Tremblant region
