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Published: August 27th 2008
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Aiguille Du Midi (3842m)
I took a breathtaking cable-car ride up this mountain peak together with 50 exicted tourists. The view from up above were amazing. The Alps have been an old dream of mine which in some strange way did not came true so far (I've dedicated most of my traveling time for third-world regions in the belief that Europe and the western world could wait for older age).
This time I managed to combine a business trip in Germany with a short however condensed trip to the French Alps. After a week in Heidelberg, I took the weekend off and headed towards the town of Chamonix located at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps and in Western Europe. It rises 4,810 m (15,781 ft) above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence.
After a half-day cruising the German and Swiss "Autobahns" (the German highways known for their unlimited speed) and a "grand-finale" up a breathtaking tumbling road climbing up a high mountain pass I arrived Chamonix's neighbour town called Les Houches where I dropped myself in a nice cosey hotel called Les Campanules. By car it's about 15 minutes from Chamonix's center, a climbing and hiking center where dozens of restaurants lie on the main streets occuipied by all from climbers to families
Nid D'Aigle Trek
Bionnassay Glacier at the background, on way up the "Eagle Nest". with their little kids. In some way it threw me back to memories of Kathmandu where I visited two years ago, only without the mysterious atmosphere and of course, the inflated prices.
Next day I dragged myself out of bed at 6am and drove to the foothill of Le Pririon, where I took a cable car up the starting point of a trail leading to Mont Blanc summit itself. I started walking alone at 1800 meters high with spectaculars views over glaciers and mountain peaks. After three easily walked hours I arrived Nid D'Agile (Eagles Nest), a popular spot crowded with tourists who arrive there using a terrific mountain train climing up ridges and valleys. The weather was a bit cloudy but warm and I stopped for re-energizing for a while before contiuing towards Teter Rouse Glacier, the final spot I planned reaching that day at 3200 meter above sea level. It was a steep and a bit difficult ascent and I felt a little isolated, although several expeditions ran into me on their way down from the summit every now and then. The weather began deteriorating as I climbed above 2900 meters and I decided to change direction
Heidelberg, Germany
During the week in Germany I took an early eveing hike up the Heidelberg Schloss (Castle) where I took this photo just before sunset. when I entered a complete white-out where which blocked my sight beyond 10 meters. After a short rest in a neglected shelter I headed down to Nid D'Aigle and took the train back to Col de Voza, from where I had to complete another tedious 1-hour walk to the starting point. I finished this 7-hour hike feeling elevated! The views on the way really worth the effort.
Next day was dedicated to Aiguillie Du Midi, one of the massif's higher peaks at 3840 meter. It can be reached by cable-car (38 Euros and worth every penny). It is one of the most extreme cable-car rides in the world with a steep ascent at the end. Views from above were breathtaking. I finished the day in a a 2-hour hike at the foot of the Argentiere Glacier, just to feel that I walked a bit... Another satisfying day ended in a 5-course French dinner back at the hotel.
On the third day I drove all the way back to Frankfurt where I wandered around the city and walked for several hours along the river and the park stuffed with people bathing in the sunday-sun. At night I took the
Nid D'Aigle Trek
I started my walk after at Le Prerion at 1800 meter. An hour later I took this photo in Col De Voza. flight back home to Tel-Aviv where a completely different kind of journey was about to begin in a month, but who knew it back then...
* The title is taken from the song "Don't Panic" by Coldplay which captures the essence of tr
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Ronen
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Mon Bla
That's how the french call this mountain. I always wondered why they never say the end of the words.. Nice adventure and cool pix. Walking on the knife (mountain edge) looks amazing ! till the next one.. ;-)