Mont Blanc, The Italian and French Alps

Considered the birthplace of modern mountaineering, Mont Blanc (known in French as "La Dame Blanche") is the highest peak in Western Europe and an Alpine “must” for any climber. The summit stands at over 12,000 feet and straddles Aosta Valley, Italy, and Haute-Savoie, France. (It is also contested by both countries in a peaceful dispute that is unlikely to ever be resolved.) To make it to the “roof of Europe” you should be in good shape and have some basic training in the use of crampons and an ice axe. As an added bonus, the valleys and hills around the mountain offer some of the best trekking in Europe.