Chamonix South Balcony, 2013

We'd done bits of this trail before, but never all of it, nor together, nor in the proper direction. It was a glorious September day, and everything was just right.

We took the Montenvers train up to its overlook above the
Mer du Glace and climbed the trail up another thousand feet
or so for this view...looking back up the "sea of ice," more a
lake of ice these days, toward the Grand Jorasses and Italy

Climbers out for a walk

Us, before Dru, the great pinnacle climbed direct
by Walter Bonatti in 1955

Vicki builds a cairn

Now we have turned a corner and are out on the balcony
trail, Chamonix below and the Aiguilles Rouges beyond, and
all the trails we have done in previous years

A parapente on final approach at Chamonix International
Airport (landings only)

You round another corner, and there's the big mountain

And when you're not looking at it or the valley  below or the
mountains beyond, there always are the Chamonix Aiguilles
towering directly above and behind you

It's a great trail, in great shape, Vicki adds

As long as the weather stays nice

And calm

And there's a cable car waiting to take you back down the
3,000 feet to terra firma