Blogs from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Rhône-Alpes, France, Europe

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Europe » France » Rhône-Alpes » Chamonix-Mont-Blanc September 29th 2019

A casual conversation with few office colleagues on the highest point in Europe piqued my interest on Mont Blanc. My colleagues were Austrians and Swiss and each was taking credit of their country having the highest point in Europe. Unfortunately for them, Mont Blanc is the highest point only in Western Europe and is top of the Alps. And it is in France on the border with Italy. As an aside, the highest point in Europe is in Russia/Georgia. When we had few more days of travel on the Interrail pass, we were wondering which place we should visit. We had done Swiss/Italy in summer in August and this was mid-September. We were looking for a different terrain and suddenly I remembered Mont Blanc. We thought it would be full of snow and less crowded as ... read more
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Europe » France » Rhône-Alpes » Chamonix-Mont-Blanc July 18th 2017

OK. I know there have been no quizzes for the blog and I don't know if I'm going soft or listening to all of you that have pleaded for an end to quiz time but today it's me that will attempt to answer all the big questions. Here goes. Can you have too much gelati? Even after a little too much fondue, perhaps a beer too many and even only a little walk the answer remains no. The flavours here are excellent, very crisp and very refreshing so really very little debate, no. Are hotel bar fridges specifically designed not to fit bottles purchased at the market? I moved a dozen cans and only just, just managed to fit 3 bottles in their place and even that meant placing them careful and diagonally and being very ... read more
Chamonix streetscape.
Chamonix streetscape.
Chamonix town hall.

Europe » France » Rhône-Alpes » Chamonix-Mont-Blanc July 17th 2017

After a delightful stay in Argentiere we caught the bus back to Tre du Champ to commence the walk to Chamonix. Absolutely delightful scenery as Mt Blanc dominates the panarama. We Tom The variant to L'acqua Blanc an absolutely picture postcard spot perched high in the mountains. We shared it with half of France judging by the crowd. It was Sunday and the the Bastille Day weekend but we could not believe the number of people there. And believe me there's no easy way to get there. Then off to the Refuge La Flegere, still almost 1900 m up but served with a chair lift so easier to understand how people may get there. Here I checked the time for the last chairlift into Chamonix from our next destination. Time 4:10. Last chair 6:00 Time to ... read more
I only walked here, there are climbers all over the cliff face here.
There's one just hanging around!
Our route. Up the metal ladders (very plural!).

Europe » France » Rhône-Alpes » Chamonix-Mont-Blanc July 17th 2017

Just as happy to take the chair lift up as we where to take it down last night. Up to 2500 m to Le Brevent. Again spectacular views over Mt Blanc and over the glacial mouths that emerge from the mountains nearby. The sky was abuzz with hang gliders and kites that soared around us most of the day. They hover, soar, dip, glide but look so serene and peaceful. Really quite amazing. All downhill today (from 2500 m that should not be a big surprise!) which can be tough on knees and as some sections require ladders and steel rope and lots have stones, stones, stones underfoot care is certainly demanded even when you think you've nearly finished. Last Refuge (Bellechat) and unbelievably no icy poles (not so unbelievable really), last significant landmark (Le Christ ... read more

Europe » France » Rhône-Alpes » Chamonix-Mont-Blanc July 15th 2017

TMB Can you get the theme here? (there are 22 photos here).... read more
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Europe » France » Rhône-Alpes » Chamonix-Mont-Blanc July 15th 2017

Bye Col (well almost). The final big 'col' lies behind us. The Col du Balme, the border between Switzerland and France, has been 'conquered' by the Aussies. Well we climbed up, across, over and down but that sort of pales into insignificance when you consider the lady serving drinks and French fries has been doing it for 65 years! Apparently she walks up each day but when we saw her she could barely get herself over the doorway threshold. Mt Blanc is as impressive as when we left her several days ago. We view the mountain from a different angle but... It is just an impressive vista. It's big, it's majestic and it just oozes power. It would not be a kind mistress (yes I'm missing Lee!). Lots of downhill as well today and into the ... read more
Just a walk into France. That's back into Switzerland though.
Refuge at Col de Balme.
Yep, that's where we going.

Europe » France » Rhône-Alpes » Chamonix-Mont-Blanc July 5th 2017

Not just for you Bun but especially for you. Have a look at the flower basket parade I have assembled from the street of Les Houches. How sweet it is.(yes it's not a big place so really it has only a single mainish street - the only thing that's big is the 'hill' ridge line that runs parallel to and towers over the town). We catch glimpses of Mt Blanc itself as the clouds clear or as we round a corner and it is a majestic sight. We leave it behind, or at least obscured from view after tomorrow and don't see it for a while, but that may be a good thing as it is somewhat overbearing and somewhat threatening.we saw it at about half past nine tonight and in the evening light it was ... read more
For Lee 1.
For Lee 2.
For Lee 3.

Europe » France » Rhône-Alpes » Chamonix-Mont-Blanc September 11th 2016

I was in Grenoble for 3 weeks for a summer school. So, of course, one of the weekends I had to drive somewhere. I decided to go for a roadtrip around Geneva lake, to the beautiful Chillon castle, and then to cross the Alps to Chatel, and then to Chamonix. I rented a small car and instead received a Renault Scenic III, which meant we had more space. We stopped in Annecy for a couple of minutes and I dropped off 3 of my passengers there, then we proceeded to pick up someone from Geneva, where we also had lunch, then drove straight to Chillon - which is beautiful. For the night, we stopped in Chatel, at Hotel les Triolets (which was quite nice), then in the morning we drove to Chamonix, then back to Grenoble ... read more
Car - Renault Scenic
Boat on the Geneva lake
Castle on the lake

Europe » France » Rhône-Alpes » Chamonix-Mont-Blanc September 4th 2015

Lately, I've have writers block; I realize it is an odd thing to say when you are blogging about adventure and travel and funky things you see; but I can’t seem to put it on paper lately and have been struggling, while relaxing in Nice. I have a feeling it has more to do with Mount Blanc than anything. After Nepal I learned that you leave a piece of your soul on a trek (or at least I do) and often it's hard to express the moments and events that took place to get you from A to B. Do you talk about one foot in front of the other over and over? Questioning every single thing you put in your backpack that now is part of you and making each step heavier. How do you ... read more
140 km and 6000M elevation gain and loss.
Day 1 in France
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Europe » France » Rhône-Alpes » Chamonix-Mont-Blanc August 27th 2015

Day 1, Aug 25th Hi ho Hi ho it’s off on another adventure I go…. This was written back on Friday Aug 28th, however my lack of internet has kept me from posting until now. However, I shall send it out, and continue on with the journey while I sip wine and eat homemade guacamole from our balcony over looking the Cote d'Azur :-) I love flying. No really. (can you see the sarcasm dripping from the page yet?) In true Ned’s World fashion, I was randomly chosen at security for ‘additional screening’. Year to date I’m at 100% randomly chosen. Pretty cool huh!? It is all computer generated apparently, I think they lie, but cant prove it :-) Second leg has commenced; my flight from Edmonton to Amsterdam was uneventful, which is perfect in my ... read more
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Chamonix Village




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