TMB - Post hike

TMB - Post hike

From Chamonix (1035m) , we took the Aiguille du Midi cable car(s) up to 3842m  to get a panoramic view of the Mont Blanc Massif. What a way to cap off our trip!

Amazing view of the mountains. Note the climber on rock face.

Closest we'll ever get to the summit of Mont Blanc, 4810m

One of the most amazing places we've ever been!

View of Auguille du Midi (highest peak to the left) from Chamonix center.

TMB Day 11 - Plan Praz (Chamonix) to Les Houches

TMB Day 11 - Plan Praz (Chamonix) to Les Houches

Word for the day - Finale

Leaving most of our gear at the hotel, we took the cable car back up to where we had left off. We climbed 2 hours up to Col de Brevent and on to Le Brevent where we had an amazing view of the entire Mont Blanc massif. It was so cool to be able to see Col de Tricot, our first pass, in the western horizon and Col de Balme to the East, Mont Blanc and the Bossons glacier were directly in front of us - never felt so close to the mountains! Had lunch at Refugio Bellachat, perched on a cliff with Chamonix 1500 meters directly below us. Next came the ¨knee-wrecking¨ descent ( over 1300 m for the day) to Les Houches, where we had started our journey 11 days ago. Picked up our suitcase at Hotel Campanules and on to the train station. Had a 50 minute wait, so Peter set off to get us a couple of beers so that we could celebrate. Back in Chamonix, had a victory dinner with our Aussie friends - John & Lynne, Margaret and Tahira.
The TMB trail was certainly tougher than expected but very satisfying and we have memories to last a lifetime.

Mont Blanc across the valley - the mountains felt like they were right there!

Very rocky section between Plan Praz and Brevent

Long steep descent to Les Houches. Thankful for the handrails.

Part of Mont Blanc Massif

TMB Day 10 - Argentiere ( Tre le Champ) to Plan Praz / Chamonix

TMB Day 10 - Argentiere ( Tre le Champ) to Plan Praz / Chamonix

Word of the day - Off-piste

There were three options today - a high route, a middle route involving a series of ladders and a low route in the event of bad weather. We wanted to do option #2.
Started the day from Argentiere - Peter thought he could find a short cut from our hotel to the main TMB trail from Tre le Champ but after an hour of climbing we realized that we would have to back track all the way to Tre le Champ to get back to the main trail and over to do the famous ladder section. We set off from there again at 10:30 for a long climb up to the sheer rock face where serious climbers were doing their thing. We began the ladder section - a series of metal ladders, foots steps, stairs and railings designed to help get over this vertical section of the TMB - not for the faint of heart especially when carrying 10 kg backpacks. Upon arriving at the day`s high point - La Flegere, we were starving but had to have a very quick lunch as we had to hike to Plan Praz, 2 hours away, to catch the last cable car down to Chamonix at 5pm. We set off at 2:45 with little time to spare. The trail was flat for the most part and we were making good time until Peter decided to follow 2 Spanish guys who seemed to be taking a short cut. It was a good idea until we ended up in a large boulder field - very difficult to manoeuvre. With the time quickly passing by, panic set in - if we missed the cable car, it would be a 2 to 3 hour hike down to
Chamonix. Not a good time to be going ¨off-piste¨! - unless you want your wife to be ¨pissed off¨!
Finally extricated ourselves from the area and made the cable car with 5 minutes to spare. Chamonix is a beautiful little town and we walked to our Hotel Gustavia. We walked around the pedestrian streets and met up with the Irish lads, as planned, at Chambre Neuf bar/restaurant. John and Lynne joined us for a nightcap.

Nearing Aiguilette d'Argentiere

The start of the ladder section. There were about a dozen sets of ladders, metal steps, chains, railings and footholds.

Overlooking Chamonix Valley

Chamonix with view of Bossons Glacier in background

TMB Day 9 - Col de la Forclaz to Argentiere

TMB Day 9 - Col de la Forclaz (1562m) to Argentiere

Word of the day - Spectacular!

Today's ascent 1069m and descent 1178m.  After breakfast with Ian, Colin, Gary and Phillip, we set off at 8:45 for Col de la Balme.  First we had to descend to Trient and then a gradual ascent arriving at the Refugio Col de la Balme at noon.  The elderly lady proprietor, had a bit of a reputation as an ogre but we got along great.  After lunch we had 2 options for the afternoon, the low route or the high route.  We chose the high one that went over Aiguiellette de Posettes, giving us a spectacular panoramic view.  Then we climbed down to Tre le Champ and hiked a bit further down river to the village of Argentiere.  We found our hotel Montana, at the other end of the village.  We met the Aussies for a beer and then had a quiet pasta dinner.  To bed early again.

Began at Col de la Forclaz in the clearing up on the right, down to village of Trient, and the long hike up to our present location on the way to Col de Balme

Rustic Refugio de Col de Balme

This is the scene on the cover of our TMB guide book

Across the valley from Aiguilette de Posettes

Peter with John, Margaret, Lynne and Tahira at Argentiere

TMB Day 8 - Champex to Col de la Forclaz

TMB Day 8 - Champex to Col de la Forclaz

Word of the day - Awesome!

Got off to a late start today as we had dinner with the Aussies last night - beef bourguignon fondue.  Delicious!...and the best part was the soup left over in the pot.  Didn`t get to bed until after 10:30 so this morning we set off about 10 AM.  The day was cool but gorgeous and sunny.  We walked by some Swiss Chalets for the first hour and then had a pretty steep ascent through the woods to Bovine.  The views along the way and at the top were stunning - a panorama of mountain peaks with fresh snow and the Rhone Valley stretched out below us.  After a lunch of local cheeses and dried meats at Alpage Bovine, we had a long descent to Col de la Forclaz in Switzerland.  The Irish Lads were there as well so we had a couple of pints and dinner with them.

Looking towards Fenetre d'Arpette

Approaching Bovine

Rhone Valley below

Alp Bovine

Our Irish friends at the bar / Hotel de la Forclaz

TMB Day 7 - La Fouly to Champex

TMB Day 7 - La Fouly to Champex.
Word for the day - Relaxed.

Woke to light rain but knowing that we had a short day, we took our time with breakfast and set off at 10 am.  By this time the rain had stopped and we had a very pleasant day stopping for lunch in Issert and arriving in Champex by mid afternoon.  Most of the day was spent walking the valley next to a river with a final 1.5 hour ascent to Champex - lovely village on a mountain lake.  We are at Hotel du Glacier and having a beer with the Irish lads at the Alpin Club Bar and restaurant. Updating the blog and adding photos has been a real challenge!

Some steep sections had chains as aids

Lovely Swiss hamlet of Les Arlaches

The TMB trail was mostly always well-marked

Champex - Lac