Tour du Mont Blanc (Mont Blanc Circuit)
July 4 - July 20, 2014
Part Two - Tour du Mont Blanc - Chamonix, France to Courmayeur, Italy
The first part of our 10-hike guided tour to do the Mont Blanc Circuit
was characterized by all kinds of bad weather - rain, fog, low-lying
clouds, even snow on one day. Our first hike of the guided tour was a
warm-up hike from Chamonix,
the Grand Balcon hike. It was done totally
in rain. Fortunately, we did the Grand
Balcon hike on our own
before the start of the guided tour, so we saw the great views,
as shown on page three previously. While we were on this trip, it was
wildflower
season, and the wildflowers were abundant.
Typically,
we hiked each day up and over one or more passes, then
descended into a valley at night.
The tour company that we used
for this trip was Mountain Travel Sobek.
Page Five - Hikes 2 and 3 - Chamonix to Les Houches
& Les Houches to Les Contamines, both in France
Hike 2 - Chamonix to Les Houches
It rained almost the entire day as we hiked mainly through
forest
to Les Houches in the Chamonix valley.
Looking down into Chamonix Valley and near the village of Les Houches,
France,
as we were descending for our one night's stay.
Hike 3 - Les Houches to Les Contamines, France
Much of this hike was up & down through forest and grassy areas
and past mountain farmhouses. Then we descended
to the small town of Les Contamines.
Another day filled
with rain, clouds, fog.
Rain soaked wildflowers were everywhere. I have not attempted to
identify the wildflowers. I have never seen such a wide variety. I love
to see the flowers, but do not need to know or try to retain their names
to enjoy them.
Crossing a suspension bridge one at a time.
The river flows from the Glacier de Bionnassay.
Descending past grazing cows to a very small village
Pat walking in the fog toward the very small village of Miage
and the
Refuge de Miage
The Refuge de Miage was a welcome stop, giving
us a chance to warm up inside. Many of us had hot chocolate.
We had to leave our rain soaked jackets and packs outside.
Some
people stay at this Refuge while doing the Mont Blanc Circuit. It
has 31 spaces in the dormitory & 8 in private rooms.
Horses grazing in a nearby field with trail signs pointing how to
continue on the Tour du Mont Blanc
Jackie and Karen, both from Santa Barbara, taking wildflower photos
3 purple thingies
Stephane Berger, our guide, with Jeff.
All the rainfall brought out the slugs.
Dense forest that we hiked through as we descended a hillside
to the small town of Les Contamines.
Guide Stephane clowning with a hat made by nature.
Stefane was the principal guide, but we also had
an assistant guide, Jean Marc, as well as a female driver,
Anna, whose responsibilities included luggage transport and
purchasing food for our lunches.
Hiking into Les Contamines, a typical mountain village with
the typical old church
A german shepherd has a fine overview of the main street of
Les Contamines from his balcony
Les Contamines, filled with wooden chalets
Link to Page 6 - Hike 4 - Roman Road to Les Chapieux, France
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