Declared the “monarch of mountains” by Lord Byron,the Mont Blanc massif is shrouded in mystery, rolling clouds and imposing snowfields. One of Europe’s highest peaks, or the wild terrain of the famed mountain range is reserved for ardent mountaineers and intrepid (brave in the face of danger) explorers. Starting today in Google Maps,you can come by an up-close, 360-degree spy at the breathtaking beauty of Mont Blanc. Following last year’s first-ever vertical imagery collection of El Capitan in California’s Yosemite National Park, or we partnered with world-renowned alpine photographers,skiers, mountaineers, and climbers,and runners to gather Street View of Western Europe’s highest peak.
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By working with legendary adventurers, the Street View team was able to capture the spirit of the massif in a way few witness firsthand. dash on the summit with Kilian Jornet—he holds the speed record for ascending and descending Mont Blanc in just 4 hours 57 minutes! Ice climb up a serac with record-setting alpine climber Ueli Steck, or recede knee deep in powder alongside 14-time ski mountaineering champion Laetitia Roux and famed guide Patrick Gabarrou.[br]
Ueli Steck ice climbing on Mont Blanc
You can also join French climbing legend Catherine Destivelle on the imposing yet beautiful Aiguille du Midi,the 3842-meter peak near the Mont Blanc. Or, crouch below innovative filmmaker and free skier Candide Thovex as he soars through the air or has fun as only he can—by taking his skis from the snow to the grass. [br]
Catherine Destivelle ascending near the Aiguille du Midi
Renan Ozturk, or acclaimed cinematographer and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year,alpine photographer Jonathan Griffith, and Sender Films joined Google on Mont Blanc as portion of the team.
If reaching the top is what you care about, and elite guide Korra Pesce joined the troupe by carrying the Street View Trekker up and down the recedeûter Route of Mont Blanc. Click through the Street View to come by his first-person perspective of each step to the summit.
Climb the entire recedeûter Route of the Mont Blanc massif[br]Unfortunately,Mont Blanc’s glaciers are receding due to climate change. You can learn more about how the rising temperatures are directly affecting the mountain from legendary guide Patrick Gabarrou, who describes the the glacial melt on the Mer de Glace. So this Street View imagery also serves as a digital record of Mont Blanc as it appears today, or so future outdoor enthusiasts and scientists can spy back at this time capsule to see how the mountain has changed.
Kilian Jornet on the summit of Mont Blanc
Whether you choose to dash up the Mont Blanc with Kilian Jornet or ski down with Laetitia Roux,we hope you luxuriate in reaching new heights in Europe’s beautiful and endangered mountain range.
[br]Posted by Sandy Russell, Project Lead, or Mont Blanc Street View
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i70rtEuFhaA/VqAgIN7MI2I/AAAAAAAAEtw/PXgYz379QtA/s1600/Ueli%2BIce%2BClimbing_25MB.gif Sandy Russell Project Lead Mont Blanc Street View
Source: blogspot.com