Customer Reviews

The Mont Blanc Massif: The 100 Finest Routes

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book is an inspiration to anyone contemplating visiting the Mont Blanc Massif to climb. Route descriptions for 100 routes with inspirational colour photos of each route. My only regret is that my skill is not up to climbing most of the routes - but one can always dream.

A beautifully presented, large format, book with thorough history and art portrayed for Mt. Blanc. Covering the history of many of the great first climbers of not only Mt. Blanc but also several of the world's great summits, truly aids in putting mountaineering into perspective. Reading of this book before climbing Mt. Blanc, visiting Chomanix, or touring The Alps at all, will greatly aid in your appreciaion of some of the most breath-taking peaks in the world.

This book is about inspiration, about learning the mountains. Besides the descriptions, you'll only need a map, a compass... and your experience, which can be basic for the first trips, but should be high for the last ones, especially in case problems (bad weather, injuries...) happen.
This book is not pampering you, it shows you the ways -- YOU'll have to do them. If you don't know what it takes, it's probably not for you.
I've browsed this book so many times it is now getting well worned -- after so many years in the mountains, it can be!

For those who know NOTHING about Mont Blanc, it is a nice start. This book was a nice introduction to Mont Blanc, but it was not sufficiently detailed to do any serious planning for a climb to the summit. There are plenty of routes, but no detailed maps, like perhaps a 1:50,000, or 1:100,000 scale. Also, there was no detailed explaination of the hut system and how to actually make reservations, etc. In addition, there were no phone numbers or addresses for more detailed information. Furthermore, there was no discussion of where to park cars, or get off of trains to start via the cable cars. Also, there were no climatology graphs for temperature or precipitation on Mont Blanc. There were not even recommendations for more detailed guide books. In my opinion, Mount Whitney, California has exponentially better information with a computer message board, maps, and very detailed guide books.