Mont Blanc as seen from the Aiguille du Midi. Max Ritter photo.
A pair of climbers are being investigated by French authorities after landing a small plane around 1000 feet below the summit of Mont Blanc, Western Europe's highest peak. The Swiss climbers had exited the plane and were en route to the nearby summit before officers from France's National Gendarmerie intercepted them and asked them to turn back.
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The pair weren't arrested, but an investigation has been opened, according to CNN. Local authorities issued statements condemning the rogue pilots/climbers: "It constitutes an intolerable attack on the high mountain environment and on all existing protective measures," said Eric Fournier, the mayor of Chamonix-Mont Blanc.
This drama comes hot on the heels of contentious anti-crowding legislation which requires climbers attempting Mont Blanc via the standard route to book a room in one of the mountain's shelters. Violators could face two years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
Breaking: Vail Resorts Buys 17 U.S. Ski Areas for $264M
Breaking: Vail Resorts Buys 17 U.S. Ski Areas for $264M
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Zack Skovron
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News
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10.3K
Vermont's Mount Snow is among the 17 ski areas purchased by Vail. Vail Resorts photo. Vail Resorts has announced that they have reached an agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding stock of Peak Resorts, which owns 17 ski areas in the East and Midwest. The deal will cost Vail $264 million, and will more than double the number of ski areas owned by the corporation. While the final closing of the deal will require the approval of Peak Resorts shareholders, Peak Resorts' Board of Directors
Bariloche Scores Biggest Snowfall in 20 years
Bariloche Scores Biggest Snowfall in 20 years
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Katie Lozancich
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1.6K
Powderhounds it's time to book a flight to Argentina. You know it's time when the Andes get pummeled by a snowstorm big enough to shut down the local airport. Cerro Catedral reaped the best bounty by far from this storm, reporting up to four feet of freshies. It was so much snow that the resort staff described it as “one of the most important snowfalls of the last 20 years.” RELATED: TGR on Location in Lofoten But Catedral isn’t the only resort in the Andes to benefit from this storm.
Free Solo Nominated For Seven Emmy Awards
Free Solo Nominated For Seven Emmy Awards
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Henri Marius
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News
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923
Hollywood will never understand Alex Honnold, that much is clear. His simple, attention free way of life and relative lack of interest in awards like the Oscars seems incomprehensible to many in the industry. Regardless of whether Hollywood understands the man, it is clear they appreciate the art of what he accomplished. On top of its Oscar win earlier this year, Free Solo, produced by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, has just been put up for seven Emmy nominations. RELATED: Alex
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June 21st, 2019
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