Temperatures once again on the rise in Chamonix and complete cloudless skies all day today. I had a wander up to the Albert Premier Refuge which sits at the side of the La Tour Glacier. A fabulous path winds up and hugs the side of the valley giving wonderful walking amonst flower meadows and eventually onto moraine and the edge of the glacier.
After a very wet ,thundery and low cloud day yesterday it was back to normality in Cham today. Clear blue skies and fresh snow above 3500m. A welcome relief from last weeks blistering heat of over 30 deg C. I have never been up to the Aiguille Du Midi so I took advantage of the excellent day pass on many of the Cham Vally's cable cars and tramwway's which give IML's an excellent reduction. At €13.50 it as to be the cheapest and best value thing I have ever bought here! The views are fab from the Midi. But even better is the views from the wee cable cars across the Vally Blanche over to Italy and the Hellbroner. But the construction of the new cable system and refuge means you can't get off here. I savored the glorious views once again after returning to the Midi. I did actually get a walk in so not all a touristy day! From the mid station I walked down to the Grand Balcon Nord path and walked across to the Mer de Glace. A fine view point. Finally making the use of my cheap ticket and getting the Montevers yram back down to Chamonix. weather set to be very settled with bags of sun and hotting up again by tomorrow with another week of 30 deg C in the valley. /u>on
Another TMB completed today with the shortest day of the 8 day trek- The Col du Balme. The team of 11 women, 1 guy and me all enjoyed sunshine every day and last few days the temps have been soaring. Well done to everyone, especially those with blisters and sore knees! Well done Jenny, Katlein, Sue, Tammy, Tanya, Lisa, Karen, Chris, Norma, Brenda & Erin. Bad luck to Janna who had to abandon her trip after day 4, picking up a virus before even getting over to Chamonixi. 4 days off. Looking for something exciting to climb!
Over in Switzerland and the weather once again fine. We've been do lucky to have sunshine mist of the time with just the odd thunderstorm late in the day. Last Monday we came over Monte Saxe, my favourite day on the TMB. Superb clarity and hot. Flowers are looking wonderful just now after the snowfields are finally retreating but Eidelweiss only just starting to show. Looking like another fine end to the 3rd TMB trip this season.
On the Alpine Merry Go Round again this week and Tour of Mont Blanc for the third time this summer. This trips group consists of eleven ladies and one man! The weather so far as been perfectly timed. Clear skies in the morning, hot and cloud building up late afternoon for thunderstorms every evening, just after we finish trekking for the day :) . Day three and we are at our usual rest up spot at Courmayeur.
Another very hot day in chamonix. Lac Blanc was still very snowy and ice still floating about in the lake. For the first time ever I never saw any Ibex below The Aiguille Rouge. But compensation was spotting a Golden Eagle above the wonderful high level path that skirts round from Lac Blanc to The Brevent.
