Around Mont Blanc

Distance Walked:  13.5 K Height Gained:  +1126 m Height Lost:  -970 m Total Distance: 150   k Total Ascent:  8387   m Total Descent:  -9476 m It's somewhat peculiar walking through a ski area, but the views today were completely worth it. A day of surprises from beginning to end. The walking guide notes led us to believe that at the start we would face a hard steep trek up through forest before the final uphill section to Col de Balme. Maybe fitness levels had improved over the previous 9 days, but the generally easy pitch of the zig zag path proved not to be hard at all. Then the next surprise. As we reached the C ol, the awesome views of the Mont Blanc range opened up in front of us. Absolutely worth every step of the 900m plus ascent. The less adventurous could get to within 120m by skilift from the Chamonix valley, but the views would not burst upon you in the same dramatic way. The next surprise came...

Distance Walked:  15 K Height Gained:  +1184 m Height Lost:  -1360 m Height Change:  -176 m Total Distance: 136.5   k Total Ascent:  7261   m Total Descent:  -8506 m Where the dots cluster, in the middle? That's some of the toughest ascent on the whole tour. That U-shaped bite on the left is the Fenetre d'Arpette. Nearly at the top... Celebration time at 2,665m. Well all one can say is WOW. The day was a toughie. The initial walk out of Champex-Lac was pleasant - then began the long ascent to the col Fenetre D'Arpette at 2665m, through lots of zig zags to gain height. This included some interesting scrambles over boulder fields and steep loose scree, until we finally reached the col where the panoramic views can only be described as spectacular. Celebration over, we began the even longer descent. Views over the glacier got better as we got lower where we could see the blue tint ...

Distance Walked:  14.5 K Height Gained:  +400 m Height Lost:  -450 m Height Change:  -50 m Total Distance:  121.5 k Total Ascent:  6077   m Total Descent:  -7146 m Much more impressive in real life than it looks here.     A very pleasant stroll with the occasional exposed drop over dry ravines down to the river 100 to 150 metres below. Typical Swiss chalet villages and open alpine meadows. A short late morning break for a beer. An excuse to use the faculties.  This was the view from the window directly above the urinal... Arrived mid afternoon in Champex-Lac, a bit of a tourist attraction with boats, paddle boards etc. The mystery for Hercule to solve was the abandoned fishing rod and a pair of flipflops (thongs if your an Aussie) floating in the water close by, but no sign of a body...