Saturday, July 2, 2011

In Chamonix Again

So we found our place again in the parking lot of the Aiguille du Midi Telephyrique and settled in for another brief stay in the historic capital of alpinism, a place we always find attractive and interesting, Chamonix. On Friday, July 1, I did another hike, taking the bus up to the Col du Montets and walking from the col back down to La Flegere and the telephyrique there back to the valley. Walking "the col back down" entailed first a two hour set of switchbacks rising 2000 feet! But it was another brief stretch of the Tour du Mont Blanc that weather forced us off in 2005.

Back in Chamonix, where some nice fresco
work has been going on




















On all my hikes in the Alps, I have never seen an ibex, except
at great distance, fleeing















But here, above the Col du Montets, in the Parc Naturelle,
there was a whole flock, obviously unconcerned with human
presence
















Including this big guy















OK, they're just mountain goats, but any sort of larger wild
mammal is unusual in Europe; you should see the sensation
among hikers caused by the sight of a marmot!
















Oh yes, there was some alpine scenery around















Mt. Blanc, from near La Flegere















Chamonix Aiguilles















Aiguille du Midi, across the valley















Grandes Jorasses

















Out our window Friday evening


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