Climbing Mont Blanc: Epilogue

• Introduction


• Preparation - Booking


• Preparation - Fitness


• Preparation - Gear


• Training Days


• Restday


• Ascent Day 1


• Ascent Day 2 - Up


• Ascent Day 2 - Down


• Epilogue

[caption id="attachment_179" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="alpine goat"][/caption]

Tom Whipple, the Times journalist we met in the Gouter Refuge, mentions us his interesting Mont Blanc piece. It's probabaly only a matter of time before you will need a permit to climb Mont Blanc. (Also check out Tom's article about tombstoning).

A great read is Steve & Judy Pardoe's Mont Blanc Ascent account. We had the same legendary guide as them for training. Still going (after women) at 56.

Mont Blanc is Best Left to Experienced Mountaineers - something to scare you off going.

QT Loung's beautiful photos of the Alps and Mont Blanc and detailed information on the normal ascent route.

A brilliant read is the Alexander Dumas telling of Balmat's version of the first ascent. People will tell you its unbalanced, untrue and that Paccard played an equal role but the bombast of this account is hilarious and human. (Can't find link to the book I read this in.) Thanks to Mac this is Mountains: An Anthology by Anthony Kenny.

Dave Foord recommended the books of Peter Cliffe to me (via a discussion on Jaiku):

Piece on rte radio 28th August 2008 about mountain climbing and increasing avalanches this year (about seven minutes in). Apparently the glaciers are disappearing. Glad I got to see glaciers and the rainforests this year.

Thanks Mac: rte pat kenny programme on Irish climber Ger McDonnell and the k2 avalanche