Mont Blanc's steep southern side is an awesome sight when seen from the historic Italian Alpine villages of Courmayeur and Entr ves. On the north side, there are many more aiguilles, and Chamonix, a world center for mountaineering, is here. Chamonix and Entr ves are linked by a seven mile tunnel through the mountain. All the villages are accessible by car, bus or train, and are only a few hours from Geneva, France, or either Turin or Milan, Italy. Mont Blanc is a year-round center for tourism, and all towns associated with it have experienced excessive commercial development.
Cable cars criss-cross the mountain, and crowds are difficult to escape.
Still, Mont Blanc's awesome presence somehow transcends all this. Comfortable huts abound on the mountain, making access easy, and there is seldom a need to bivouac. Mont Blanc de Courmayeur 15,577 ft. Mont Maudit 14,649 ft. 4,465 m. Aiguille Verte 13,524 ft. 4,122 m.