Tour de Mont Blanc - Day 11
Day 10 _ Friday 19 July
Walk from Tre-Le-Champ to Planpraz and cable car to Chamonix 13.50kms - the ladder section!!!!!
Walk 1 - Tré-le-Champ to Planpraz via Lac Blanc without ladder section, 14.8km, 6:15 hours Ascent/Descent 1348m/802m (4423 ft / 2631 ft)
Walk 2 - Tré-le-Champ to Planpraz via Lac Blanc, 14km, 7:00
We took walk 2 with the ladder section.
The next two days were a real highlight of the Tour du Mont Blanc. The views across the Chamonix Valley to the Mont Blanc Massif were outstanding throughout.
From our stay at Refuge La Boerne there was a steep trail that climbed via Aiguillette de Argentière to the Grand Balcon Sud of the Aiguilles Rouges. Taking in a few fixed ladders on the way we reached Aiguilles Rouge Nature Reserve and sightings of Ibex, Marmot and many other furry creatures are common.
We continued to climb to Lac Blanc, where it could have been the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic. Again the views were something that can not be described and the photos don’t give them justice but they were so magnificent and one that we have committed to memory.
Mikey and I had photos on the edge of the rocks before the ladder ascent started. We didn't have a picnic in Lac Blanc but kept on climbing to find the lake for our lunch and swim but no swimming allowed. The only stay where we bought the packed lunch - from Refuge La Boerne. It turned out to be absolutely delicious pasta salad, eeeeeeggggg, tomato and a piece of fruit and a crappy little muesli bar of some sort.
With views of 360 degree around us Mont Blanc seemed within touching distance while standing on the top looking over the valley on the opposite side of the valley was Mt Blanc - 🎶we were standing on top of the world🎵(someone singing into his video … it was a laughing moment but one to record and remember). We had photos while bees buzzed around us and we enjoyed the final leg. Ritchie made friends with some Norwegians and the chat keeped on going. We decided to carry on and we were off.
Another hour of descent or loose rocks brought us to the cable car station at Le Flégère, continue past the cable car and take the ''Balcon Sud'' route traversing across the mountainside with stunning views of Mont Blanc as you go.
Mikey and I decided to do some mountain running over the traverse which was a huge amount of fun and took us to the top of the cable car and to have a beer at a lovely little bar called Altitude 2000 while we waited for R&R to arrive.
The balcony route arrives at Planpraz where you can take the cable car down to the centre of Chamonix.
Hotel De L’Arve - Chamonix. We enjoyed this quiet location and were right in the centre of Chamonix. The staff were incredibly friendly and we had coffee, sparkling water, tea (Bio Mint) on tap all day and special treats such as apple cake and croissants available when we wanted them and especially after our walks. Totally recommend staying here when in Chamonix.
Thoughts of the day:
● Huge amount people at the lake
● people everywhere taking the 1 day walk up to the huts
● took the shine off us having walk for 6 hours to get there
● Ladders were fun
● I found ladders just a little frightening.
● Pretty cool experience
● lunch - by the lake