FINAL COL, FINAL DAY, FINAL TMB

The final day of this final TMB this season and the team were quickly up to the Col de Balme. Greeted by a cold wind with beautiful views across to Mont Blanc & the Chamonix Valley. The cloud kept swirling about the mountains adding to the drama. There was even more fresh snow on the tops after the constant precipitation last night. Well done to the team and a great bunch of folk.

FRESH SNOW

Fresh snow fell above 2800m overnight to leave a glorious early morning. Today's route over the Bovine is the penultimate day on the TMB. Not my favourite day of the trek but the crisp air, wonderful clouds and a massive rainbow over the Rhone Valley made it a far more interesting day. We got away with only a few light showers. Very quiet on the trail now with many accommodations and refreshment spots including the Bovine Buvette.

WET FERRET

We left the Bonatti Refugio in cloud and rain this morning. It rained all morning. A welcome and fantastic hot chocolate for elevenses at Rufugio Elena before the final slopes to the Grand Col Ferret and Switzerland. As forecasted it dried up and cloud lifted at La Peule with some afternoon views and a chance to dry out. My final TMB looks like ending on a damp note!

SCOTTISH CONDITIONS ON MONTE DE LA SAXE

One of the more clear moments today

Summit celebrations on the Tete de Trenche

Eidelweiss still hanging on

The best and only view of the Grandes Jorassss

Visibility down to 10 metres today

Probably the finest day on the TMB is over the wonderful Monte de La Saxe ridge from Courmayeur. One of the very few occasions today that I have done this traverse in clag. Ws saw hardly any view. From just below the Refugio Bertone we were in thick clag for the rest of the day. Such a shame but a great walk anyway. The group were round in under 8 hours to the Bonatti Refugio. It felt like a Scottish hill day, cool and cloudy.

ITALY

One of the finest days of the TMB is over the Col de La Seigne into Italy. Today we once again had sunny spells and some cloud. It was pretty chilly on the tops of the cold though. A stiff Westerly high up. Great clarity of air again. We spotted lots of marmots again, we almost tripped over one guy.

GOOD MAN!

Over the Col de Bonhomme for the final time this year and another sunny day. The mornings are now pretty chilly plus cooler on the higher parts which is just wonderful. We went looking for Ibex but none spotted big plenty of active marmots.

FINAL TMB OF 2015

My final Tour du Mont Blanc this season. Think this is number 48 in total but start ing to loose count again! I love September, the changing colours, quieter trails and lovely clear light usually. It can often be the best month for weather but with a wonderful summer already it will be hard to beat. The extreme heat of July and part August is now well gone and a welcome relief of 'normal' summer temperatures today. My group of 11 from USA, Canada, Australia and the UK were round from Bellevue to Nant Birant in a great time and were steaming up the final pull of the Roman Road to Borant in a respectable time.

A QUIET VIEW OF LES DRUS

The magnificent Les Drus

Mer de Glace & Grand Jorasses

Spires and glaciers all day

Some late afternoon cloud, even better

The Aguille Rouge

The clear skies over the Chamonix valley coaxed me away from the boring paperwork today. I had a quick blast up to Montenvers and along the Grand Balcon Nord. With lots of folk around I escaped the madding crowds and found a delightful spot with an even more impressive angle on Les Dru's classic shape. I sat in the sun gazing across the Met de Glace whilst waiting for the sun to move into the finest position for photos. But the paperwork becond so I tore myself away and caught the train down from Montenvers. Stunner of a day.

FENETRE ARPPETTE

The tiny Fenetre Arppette, dwarfed by fine rock pinnacles

Super views of the Trient Glacier

The glorious Val Arppette

Glacier vistas all the way down

The stunningly beautiful and wild Val Arppette is one of the finest days on the TMB and Haute Route. The toughest route on the entire TMB. Not particularly for height climbed or distance travelled but for the terrain underfoot. You really do feel like you are 'in the mountains' on this day. Wild, rugged and equally beautiful. Do it on a sunny day and you will be rewarded with stunning views and a real sense of achievement. It was another one of those beautifuly atmospheric cloud days. The morning sun breaking through with swirling cloud. Magic.

AUTUMN ARRIVES IN THE ALPS

Beautiful cloudscapes & Autumn colours

Italy from Col de La Seigne

Stunning clouds

Domes de Miage

Into September and The Alps are looking and feeling like Autumn has arrived. The last few days it has felt colder in the mornings and evening. Some stunning cloud and light on the 1st September. My kind of temperatures and great light for photography.