Courmayeur is a legendary ski and climbing resort, rich in tradition and natural ambience. The resort sits on the Italian side of Mont Blanc, Western Europe's highest mountain. The French resort of Chamonix is just over the border and lift-linked to one of Courmayeur's ski areas by a succession of six cable cars. These in turn open up a number of wonderful off-piste routes on both sides of the border, and a small glacier summer skiing lift on the Colledel Gegante glacier.Heli-skiing is also popular here, the business buoyed up by skiers and snowboarders hopping over the border from France (where heliskiing is illegal). Courmayeur offers skiing for all standards, including famous runs such as the resort's World Cup Downhill and the International, a 6 km (4 mile) run which drops 1000 metres (3300 feet) as it descends. Many runs are covered by snowmaking and the resort has a very good snow record. There are two main ski areas. The largest, Checrouit - Val Veny, is directly above the resort, and is largely suited to beginners and intermediates, although there are some challenging off-piste descents from top to bottom which may be undertaken with the assistance of a guide. The Guide Society was established in 1850 as a free association of Alpine professionals.