Tour de Mont Blanc - Variety of Photos

---

Hi from Kelley in Canada! Yes, I admit I am in complete denial that my trip is over. However the jet lag reminds me it is. Boo Hoo!! I am not capable of doing much more than laundry so spent the day looking over the photos and smiling. Have heard from Alicia and Ross and all is well .....I miss her already!

After talking to my sister this morning, I have decided to add more photos (not just mountains) to the blog instead of just sending her a bunch of attachments. It seems if I were on facebook I could just add an album of pictures, but as I am not, here goes.

Compiled a few stats, as I really can not believe where our feet where able to take us. We completed 11 stages of the Tour de Mont Blanc covering 177 km and 11,206 m of height gain and loss in 12 days with 86 hours on the trail.

Thanks for checking in on us and our journey. It was one of the most amazing times for Alicia and I to share and so special to know we are supported by great family and friends back home!

Take care and happy hiking!

luv,

Kelley

PS Ooops it appears I have loaded too many favorite photos to allow me to change their order...sorry!

PS I believe Alicia will be making blog entries as her trip continues...stay tuned!

---

Photos

Chains?
Funny place to put these....there were sure other spots they would have been more helpful

Special Sign post
A variety of signs helped keep us on the right trail!

Another Sign
Each country used different methods....this one appeared often! TMB Tour Mont Blanc

Our hotel in Cormayeur
Found 31 other Canadians here....but on a bus transport to each trail for day hikes!

Glacier retreat
Wow you can really see where this glacier once was!

Check out Mabel's collar
Nicely detailed collars hold the bells that ring through the valleys!

Italian Signpost
As much detail as anyone could possibly want.

Alicia feeding the pack mule!
We do know how hard he worked all day...carrying those heavy packs!

Hotel Edelweiss in La Fouly Day 7
We thought we had the dorm all to ourselves until 3 groups arrived with pack mules.....then we had 10 new roommates!

Swiss provide rest stops....
with a view.

Our Aussie friend Leo
A wealth of Alps knowledge after years of hiking in them!

Alpine fall
Colours starting to change in the Alpine

Feeding sheep
Alicia always on the look out for animals on the trail!

Relief!
Alicia captured my feeling exactly in this shot.....thank goodness the bouldering is over!

Aids to Navigation
What can I say...a little help along the trail for us novices!

Mont Blanc from Les Contamines - Day 2
No matter where you are on the entire circuit....Mont Blanc is the show piece.

Soothing rest stop
Nothing like cold glacial water to ease the achy feet.

Ipod Time
Great to listen to music for a bit and not have to watch where each step is taking you.

Roaming herds!
You smell them, then hear the bells and then finally they come into view.

Valley flowers
We missed the Alpine meadows in bloom but managed to find this valley field of fall flowers.

Emergency Shelter
Looking back we are thankful for our great weather and that we did not need to make use of this type of shelter.

Comments

[Betty in 203]

Wow!
Boy those pictures really demonstrate what a phenomenal trip this was. I keep looking down the page for - beer steins, lederhose, Heidi and the Sound of Music family rounding the corner singing Oh Canada. Hope there will be a slide show in Ladner soon.

[brenda]

I raise my hat to you!
whats a girl to do when such an adventure comes to an end but start planning the next one. If you weren't already my sister I would really wish you were. Lucky me! Love you much,B