In many ways, the alps are like the Cascades in Washington. They are about the same altitude, but with dramatic vertical rises. Mount Rainier, at 4329m (14,411ft) can be seen from Tacoma, at Sea Level. From the base of the mountain, you have a 9,000ft vertical rise. The altitude is much less than in Colorado, but the vertical rises make the impression all the more dramatic. Chamonix is at 1035m (3,395ft). Thus from Chamonix to the top of Mont Blanc is a vertical rise of 3775m (12,385ft). Consider that Aspen starts at about 8,000ft. and Maroon Bells is at 14,156--a vertical rise of 6,156, or about half the vertical rise as in the Alps.