Current detailed GPS measurements conducted on the 16-17th September have shown that Mount Blanc amounts to 4810.7 m. Monte Bianco is smothered by a deep ice cap which has got bigger by 2.8 meters in only two years moreover more surprising the amount of the ice has virtually doubled up . At any rate that is according to the professionals.
The mass of ice and snow was calculated for the maiden time in 2002. It amounted to 14000 cubic metres above 4750 meters. It equaled just 13900 cubic metres in 2004 perhaps due to the high temperatures with positive temp as high as 4900 m altitude. Even so the ice cap has nearly doubled up since then and now numbers 22000 cubic meters.
Chamonix’s reputable near by weather forecaster Abdul Russell said the increment in the size of the ice cap is one of the counter intuitive consequences of global warming: Snow has not accumulated generally in the Alpes only with the climate change we are having added hotter westerly winds that bring in rain lower down however during summer this means compact snow that settles above 3800 metres altitude hence the mass bulk of the ice is increasing. Contrast this to the state of affairs in wintertime where the snow crystals are very cold and are transported by air currents and so do not settle down on the peak.
Chamonix Haute Savoie France is not just infamous for Mount Blanc it is also a world renowned snowboarding field and alpinism centre with many ski deals and chalet deals to be had. Furthermore at just 1 hour from Geneva airport it is ideal for a ski weekend.
