Tour du Mont Blanc

The « Tour du Mont Blanc » is a ten to fifteen day trek around « Mont Blanc », Europe highest mountain.

Our trek lasted a full week. We did it clockwise, starting from « Le Tour » village just above Chamonix, and ending at « Notre Dame de la Gorge » close to « Les Contamines ». This represent about tree quarter of a full revolution, hence the duration.

After a week of intensive training, we joined a group lead by a guide… and a mule. To do it in a group limits your freedom, but has as main advantage to have a tent waiting for you every night and a mule to carry half your luggage. Our mule, Noisette (hazelnut in english) became soon our heroine when she proved so skilled and strong at climbing anywhere day after day. And withsole salary… grass and the carrots I had brought for her.

So we toured the Mont Blanc in July 2007. One of our most exhilarating experience!

Week 1 (training)

The pretty Le Tour village near Chamonix where we dropped our car and spent the first week.

Not quite near the top!

Lys martagon

Facing « les Aiguilles Rouges »

Nice encounter

Am I pretty?

Checking our location with GPS

Never high enough!

Facing les Aiguilles Vertes and Mont Blanc

At the top!

Over 2000 m high, it’s getting chilly

Azalea are still blooming in July

Shall we dash away or not?

Stilted water in lac Blanc

Week 2 (touring Mont Blanc)

Hi Suk, the guide and the mule Noisette. Who’s overloaded?

A crowd of trekkers crossing the swiss border

Ferret pass. We’re still fresh in the morning!

It seems it’s always climbing up!

La Peula, our only indoor bivouac. Hay can be a fabulous mattress!

Who said slit eyes?

Just follow the trail…

At Mt Dolent, the top of which belongs to France, Swizerland and Italy.

Beautiful gentian

Fabulous edelweiss

Great view at grand Ferret pass!

In the afternoon, tiredness is taking its toll!

Even climbing down is climbing!

A nice resting place near refuge Elisabetta

Lake Miage, another icy lake

The end of the day: tired but happy!

At Seigne pass

Fours pass: yes it is very steep!

Fours pass: ascending ahead of the group… and the mule!

The last névé at nearly 3000 m high

Noisette and her new guide!

After the longest lap, at the col du Bonhomme

Ready to fly!

Mule drawn?