Chamonix / Mont Blanc
Today we went to Chamonix, a small town located right at the foot of Mt. Blanc, Europe’s highest peak. We wanted to take the tour from atop the “Aiguille de Midi” through the “Vallee Blanche” back down to Chamonix, but unfortunately weather conditions were foggy above 3000m sea level, so we had to change plans and went to the “normal” ski resort of Chamonix which “only” goes up to 3300 meters. The ski resort calls itself “Grands Montets” and has very steep yet long slopes. Difficulty is very high in this resort. It is non-recommendable for beginners, and takes its toll of exhaustion even from the well trained. But it was a great experience to go skiing right within the Mt. Blanc Massive.
My impression of the Mont Blanc is that of a ferocious, incredibly steep-walled, dizzyingly high mountain towering way aloft. All around its lofty summit glistening in brilliant white like a perfectly round shaped cloud, there are claws of rock domes piercing the sky in 4000m height, seemingly guarding the soft giant from unauthorized access.
One thing that’s most impressive is the fact that this mountain is much higher than any other in its vicinity. When approaching from Annecy, the first view is overwhelming. Even from quite a distance it occupies almost the whole sky.
