Tour du Mont Blanc.

We arrived home yesterday after a great trip to the Mont Blanc Massif to walk the TMB and spend a couple of days in Chamonix. The weather was mixed but we had some great days in the mountains, met some good people and completed the tour to our schedule in 11 days.
The following is a photo diary of the trip - our 10th anniversary tour.
We flew to Geneva from Edinburgh on Wednesday 6 August and transferred to Les Houches with Alpybus. Having booked into Chalet Pascaline we took the train into Chamonix to have a meal and a wander around the town.

Back in Chamonix.

Thursday 7 August - Les Houches to Les Contamines. 

Leaving Chalet Pascaline on a bright sunny morning.

At the start of the first climb up over Col de Voza.

The route passed through several delightful alpine hamlets.

Having a drink at one of many water troughs.

Susan getting used to her big pack.

Our typical lunch for the tour - bread, cheese, tomato and sausage.

'Can we get a donkey to carry these packs?'

Nearly there!!!

Our hotel for the night - the pool was closed.

Friday 8 August - Les Contamines to Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme.

The early morning view from our balcony - the start of another sunny day.

The pilgrimage chapel of Notre-Dame de la Gorge.

3 photos of climbing the Col du Bonhomme 2329m

At the col.

The view back to Les Contamines.

Heading for the higher Col de la Croix 2483m.

At the col.

Dropping down to our hut for the night.

Heading to our 4 bed room.

Evening view from the hut.

Saturday 9 August - Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme to Refuge Elisabetta.

Heading out for the Col de Fours 2665m - one of the highest points on the TMB - on a cloudier day.

Hard snow on the col.

The descent required care in places.

It's a long way down and then we go up again!!!!

About half way down.

The next col is this way.

Heading up the Col de la Seigne.

On the col which lies on the French - Italian border.

Descending into Italy. 

A renovated former Customs House - now a museum.

Superb alpine scenery on route to the Elisabetta Refugio.

The climb up to the hut was a 'sting in the tail'.

But the glacial scenery was amazing despite the low cloud.

A shower followed by a well deserved beer.

An evening view from the hut.

Sunday 10 August - Refuge Elisabetta to Courmayeur.

A cloudy and wet start to the day.

Waterproofs on and ready to head off.

Limited view back to the refuge.

The burns were up after overnight rain.

Some breaks in the cloud gave us some hope for later in the day.

We couldn't see the drop.

A wee refuge on the descent to Courmayeur.

The sun broke out as we approached the town.

A quaint street on the outskirts of town.

Susan takes her boots off outside Hotel Triolet.

Ready for a shower and night of luxury after 2 hut nights.

A beer on the balcony.

This must be the world's largest crampon.

Being a 'normal' tourist in Courmayeur.

Monday 11 August - Courmayeur to Refugio Bonatti.

Leaving the hotel on a wet morning.

The streets were empty as we wandered through central Courmayeur.

We gained height rapidly and passed 2 guided groups - Courmayeur way below Susan.

We had a choice of two routes here. As it had stopped raining we chose the harder one over Mont de la Saxe.

The route took us up a lovely ridge with great views.

On the summit.

From the summit we descended to Col Sapin where we had lunch.

Susan on the second col of the day - Pas Entre-Deux Sauts with only the descent to go.

Arriving at the Bonatti Refuge.

'Can we get a donkey to carry our sacs?'

The view towards a cloud covered Mt. Blanc.

Late in the evening the summit cleared giving hope for better weather the next day.

Susan gets some Kindle time in our room for two.

Tuesday 12 August -  Refugio Bonatti to La Fouly.

A more promising start to the day but Mt. Blanc still cloud covered.

Leaving the Bonatti Refuge.

Saying goodbye to the donkeys. 

An easy descending path to start the day.

Amazing views of the south face of the Grandes Jorasses.

We weren't tempted by any of these in Val Ferret.

'Can we have a cow to carry the sacs?'

Looking down the Val Ferret.

Climbing up to Grand col Ferret and the Italian - Swiss border.

Nearly there - looking back to the hills we crossed the day before.

On the border looking in to Switzerland.

The view back down Val Ferret towards the Italian - Swiss border we crossed 3 days ago.

More pack donkeys and a view to the snow covered Grand Combin.

Views on the descent to La Fouly.

Entering La Fouly.

More Kindle time in our room shared with 5 other TMB trekkers - surprisingly we slept well with the aid of ear plugs.

Wednesday 13 August -   La Fouly to Champex.

A dreich morning in Switzerland.

Not too keen to go out this morning.

Leaving Auberge des Glacier.

A plethora of signs.

Easy walking on route to Champex.

The rain eased after an hour.

The route took us through several quiet hamlets.

Susan couldn't lift this wine bottle !!!!!

She settled for water.

Entering Champex - we passed this way 10 years ago on the Haute Route.

Entering the old fashioned but excellent Hotel Belvedere where we had a superb evening meal.

Airing damp socks and boots on our balcony.

Thursday 14 August -  Champex to Trient.

We wanted to follow the harder option over the Fenetre d'Arpette so fortunately the day dawned bright.

Getting ready to leave outside the best hotel we stayed in.

A beautiful morning in sleepy Champex.

Starting the climb into Val d'Arpette.

The walk up to the col was stunning on a brilliant alpine morning.

A boulder field near the top required care.

On the col at 2665m

A steep boulder field descent.

Great views of the Trient glacier.

Time for lunch.

We met two lads from Peebles on the descent - one took this photo - they were doing the Haute Route.

The descent was never easy.

Nearly there!!!

In Trient - still after a donkey!!

Trient was a disappointing wee hamlet apart from this lovely church.

Friday 15 August -  Trient to Tre-le-Champ.

Ready to leave the worst place we stayed Auberge Mont Blanc.

Heavy rain soon started to fall and it didn't stop all the way up the Col du Balme - it did turn to sleet/snow higher up.

Descending into France - too wet and cold to stop for photos.

The amazing Auberge la Boerne in Tre-le-Champ.

Looking into our tiny room for 3 - luckily we were on our own.

Yet more Kindle time.

Saturday 16 August -  Tre-le-Champ to La Flegere.

Getting ready to leave on a promising morning.

The sun began to break through as we climbed up towards Lac Blanc.

The view across to the Aiguille Verte and the Dru.

Mont Blanc comes into view.

Climbing the first ladder.

On the aided sections near the Aiguillette d'Argentiere.

Susan enjoying more ladders.

The view back to Col de Balme.

Almost there - the last ladder.

Mont Blanc - we've almost walked all the way round it.

 Stunning views south .....

.... and north

At Lac Blanc.

It started to cool down as we sat for lunch.

The refuge at La Flegere.

Evening clouds over the Chamonix Aiguilles.

The lights of Chamonix.

Sunday 17 August - La Flegere to Les Houches - the final day.

Sunrise on the Mont Blanc Massif - a superb last day.

The route followed the Grand Balcon Sud tp Plan Praz and gave great views of the Monarch of the Alps. 

From Plan Praz we climbed up to Col du Brevent.

The view north from the col.

Another great trek together.

Me at the col.

The walk to the summit of Le Brevent gave very different views.

The last ladder to climb - the rocks in the shade were coated in ice.

The wide piste leading to the summit of Le Brevent which was swarming with 'cable car tourists'.

The brilliant tour around this mountain is nearly complete.

Only this long descent to go!!!!!

Susan getting on with the descent - it took almost 3 hours.

Sadly I didn't take a finishing photo in Les Houches but we were very happy to have completed one of the world's great treks independently and with no problems. We didn't have wall to wall sunshine but you can't expect this in the mountains and the variety added to the experience. We will remember it for years to come.

From Les Houches we caught the train to Chamonix and then booked into our Apartment. A celebration drink in Munsters was then a must.