[leadin]Of course the best way to experience Mont Blanc is to climb it. But the next best thing is just a click away.[/leadin]
Google on Thursday released an incredible interactive guide to the iconic 15,777-foot mountain that is climbed by an estimated 20,000 people each year.
You can learn about iconic destinations like the Gouter Hut, explore the shrinking Mer de Glace glacier, and learn about ski-making in the Chamonix valley. There are maps, photos, and 360º videos — it’s really an impressive collection.
“I’m so excited that this has finally released! Last summer I partnered with Google and Sender Films to shoot Ueli Steck, Kilian Jornet, Patrick Gabarrou, Catherine Destivelle, Candide Thovex, and Laetitia Roux covering every alpine pursuit in the high mountains of Chamonix. All shot in high res 360° photos, with Renan Ozturk leading the filming…so you know it’s got to be worth your time! Thanks to Google and Sender Films for bringing me on board, this really was an incredible shoot.”
“Google Maps just launched the big Chamonix/Mont Blanc project I was ‘athlete chaser’ cinematographer for. With my old buddies SENDER FILMS it was a full on adventure running with Kilian Jornet across steep ridges, being on steep mixed terrain and sketchy seracs with Ueli Steck, witnessing Candide Thovex and his crew build a huge high-altitude kicker on Mont Blanc and spending time with legends Patrick Gabarrou and Catherine Destivelle. There is also a whole interactive website with 360 VR photos by Alpine Exposures, Jon Griffith Photography, climate change animations, epic street view, and other hidden gems. Stay tuned for more from this one!”