I will be attempting Mont Blanc this August , but have a huge phobia about cable cars. Some years ago, I had a very bad experience in a light aircraft, which has left me extremely hesitant about entering into a restricted area with glass al around, and not on "terra firma" I am absolutely fine in large aircraft,narrow ridges, and heights do not bother me. I know that I have to overcome this phobia to obtain altitude training. Any ideas for overcoming ?

-- Richard Macdonald (richmacdonald37@hotmail.com), February 25, 2000

Answers

A Psychologist who specializes in phobias or cognitive/behavioral forms of treatment.

-- Ronnie Miller (dylan-miller@juno.com), February 28, 2000.

You do know there are plenty of ways to get up Mont Blanc with out the use of cable cars don't you? It just requires a little more effort, but would probably be good for your trainning

-- Sandy Paterson (u03app@abdn.ac.uk), February 29, 2000.

If you're OK in trains, you can take a rack-and-pinion train up to the Eagle's Nest from the valley, and do the standard Gouter route, with no cable cars involved. If you want other ways of gaining a bit of height mechanically in the region, there's also the Montenvers train, which gives access to quite a few high altitude hikes and rock routes.

-- Barney Scott (barney_scott@uk.ibm.com), April 19, 2000.