Strictement Interdit Aux Piétons
Conquistadors of the Useless is probably one of the most accurate descriptions that author and climber, Lionel Terray, could have dreamt up for his seminal book. But, like Terray, no mountaineer would ever really see his pastime as a useless endeavour.
The pain and drama of climbing in the high mountains can never be underestimated and often we find ourselves wondering, "Why?" - and yet we go back; again and again, to a place that is Strictement Interdit Aux Piétons.
The Mont Blanc Massif from around Dôme du Goûter to Aiguille Verte. The rapidly retreating glaciers of Bossons and Taconnaz drip from the obvious summit of Mont Blanc (4,807m)
The old observatory atop the Aiguille du Midi peers through the mist. At 3,842m this is one of the highest mountaineering experiences in the world that regular tourists can reach, thanks to the worlds tallest cable-car, rising from Chamonix, France
Venturing out. Climbers leave the Aiguille du Midi bound for the gigantic mountaineering playground that the Mont Blanc Massif provides. In winter this ridge is often chocked with skiers attempting the iconic Vallee Blanche route back to Chamonix
Ant camp. Climbers take up base on the top of the Mer de Glace glacier in order to spend days on the endless number of routes in the area. The Mer de Glace itself extends down the valley for 7km (4.30mi)
From the Aiguille du Midi, climbers can just about be seen ascending the flank of Mont Blanc du Tacul
Mont Blanc (4,807m) from the opposite side of the Chamonix valley, near the summit of Brévent. Mountains of this size do not fit within most human's sense of scale. We think we can see climbers, or that the cable car is closer to Mont Blanc than it is to us. Try this for size: The obvious white summit of Mont Blanc seen here is 11.51km (7.15mi) away from the photographer's vantage point, and he was only using a 105mm lens.
