Ballard's Tour de France: June 1, 2014: Chamonix

What an absolutely awesome day we had today! The weather cooperated beautifully, with blue skies and a few light, fluffy clouds; the perfect weather for views from 12,600 feet.

We took an early morning gondola up the mountain, first to Plan de l'Aiguille at 7,572 feet (Chamonix's elevation is 3,399), then another gondola to the top of the lift station at 12,388 feet, then a final elevator ascent (inside the mountain) to Aiguille du Midi at 12,605 feet. The views were spectacular, as the pictures below prove. We saw Mount Blanc, the Alps' highest point and, way in the distance, the Matterhorn. It's a little disconcerting how dizzy you can get at 12,000 feet and how even the shortest flight of stairs leaves you winded.

We had hoped to stop at Plan de l'Aiguille on our way down and hike over to Montenvers and the Mer de Glace ("Sea of Ice"), but there was way too much snow still at Plan de l'Aiguille. Instead, once we got back to Chamonix, we took a cogwheel train to Montenvers to see the Mer de Glace. From there, we hiked back to Chamonix.

And what a hike it was!! Although it was all downhill, it was tough: we traversed snow fields, forded streams, climbed down ladders and scrambled over rocks. Our guidebook warned us not to attempt this hike and they were definitely right! It took us @ 2.5 hours to hike down and, by the time we reached Chamonix, the weather had warmed up considerably. Even though it wasn't as strenuous as an uphill hike would have been, we all decided we had earned a 2-scoop gelato!