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| Grand Combin |
I was guiding for the excellent, friendly and local company Mont Blanc Treks once again this season. I've been guiding for Sara's professional guiding company based in the Chamonix for the last 8 seasons. My group on this trip was composed of 11 folk from Britain, Canada, USA and Australia. A top group of folk and some great laughs along the 180km route with 15000 metres of ascent. Here's just a few images from our walk.
DAY 1
CHAMONIX VALLEY - TRIENT
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| Heading over a wet and misty Col de Balme into Switzerland |
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| Fine morning with the last chance of Mont Blanc in clear skies, before the rain! |
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| A wet, cold and windy Cole de Balme |
DAY 2
TRIENT - CHAMPEX LAC
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| Fenetre Arpette |
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| Martagon Lilly |
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| Trient Glacier |
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| Swallow Tail Butterfly |
DAY 3
CHAMPEX LAC - CABANE LOUVIE
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| Champex Lac |
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| Val de Bagnes |
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| Enroyte to Cabane Louvie |
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| Lac Louvie |
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| Relaxing at the Cabane Louvie |
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| Golden hour on the Grand Combin |
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| I chose to bivvy out, rewarded with a fine sunset over the Mont Blanc range |
DAY 4
CABANE LOUVIE - CABANE PRAFLEURI
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| Lac Louvie & Grand Combin |
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| Pigne de Arolla from Col Prafleuri |
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| Mt. Cenus Bellflower |
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| The team at lunch |
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| Approaching todays 2nd col, Prafleuri |
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| Col Prafleuri |
DAY 5
CABANE PRAFLEURI - AROLLA
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| Lac Dixence from Col la Roux |
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| Ibex high on the cliffs |
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| Col la Roux |
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| Traffic jam |
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| The unmistakable Eidelweiss! |
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| Flower meadows beside Lac Dixence |
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| Above Lac Dixence |
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| Steepest col on the trek, Reidmatten |
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| Grey skies over Mont Blanc de Cheillon |
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| Ibex, phone shot |
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| Colourful flowers every day |
DAY 6
AROLLA - LA SAGE
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| Lac Bleau |
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| Martagon Lilly |
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| Meadows near Lac Bleau |
DAY 7
LA SAGE - ZINAL
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| High above Val d'Herens |
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| Dent d' Herens, Pigne de Arolla, Mont Blanc de Cheillon |
DAY 8
REST DAY
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| Swiss National Day in Zinal & music |
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| My room at Zinal looking out to Besso |
DAY 9
ZINAL - GRUBEN
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| Above the Val d' Aniveiers |
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| Lunch at the Weisshorn Hotel |
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| Weisshorn and meadows |
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| The team fresh and rearing to go above Zinal |
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| Heading down into the Turtmantal |
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| Meidd Pass |
DAY 10
GRUBEN - ST. NIKLAUS
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| Afternoon tea and cake at Jungen |
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| The unspoilt hamlet of Jungen and the Mattertal |
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| The Mattertal & Weisshorn |
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| Brunegghorn & Wesshorn |
DAY 11
RANDA - ZERMATT
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| The longest span footbridge in Europe |
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| Atmospheric cloudscapes on the Europaweg |
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| Cumulous clouds above Zermatt |
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| The bustling streets of Zermatt |
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| The team at the finish |
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| The Matterhorn at dawn |
