Europe 2010

Day 23		Monday 12th July

We walked to the departure station of the Aiguille du Midi cable car system – less than 500 metres from our hotel. We paid and received boarding cards for No 21 service (of the day).  Each car holds about 72 people, so we were squashed in with 70 others. We only paid for a trip on the first section to the Plan d’Aiguille at 2317 metres. We had a good look around and then descended to base again. The views of the glacier, the peaks and the valley were amazing. We returned to the hotel briefly for sun cream and a coffee.  
We next walked round to the station of the rack and pinion railway to Montenvers. This rises 871 metres in its 5 km run. It was started as a steam hauled railway in 1905 (opened in 1909) but was converted to overhead electric in 1954. It is an interesting climb, although many of the views across the valley are obscured by trees. The view from the top is spectacular, particularly of the Mer de Glace glacier.  The ticket price included the descent by cable car to the glacier and entrance into an ice cave/grotto that has been carved into the glacier. Even with the cable car there were still 350 steps down to the ice caves. There were several carved as living room, bedroom etc and it was all lit so that the lights shone through the ice. After this spectacle, it was up the 350 steps again to the cable car and then to the train. We had a sandwich and a drink and then returned to Chamonix again where we rested in the hotel room for a while before spending some time in the hotel swimming pool. After this we caught the free shuttle bus into town for an ice cream and a look round the shops. Chamonix is definitely a town for young active people who walk, climb and ski. The weather had been glorious all morning but clouded over during the afternoon. It has rained several times since then and is pouring down now (9.15 pm) It cleared enough at about 7.00 pm for us to walk along to a bar for dinner, but poured whilst we were eating. Then it cleared for us to walk back. There has been thunder rolling round the mountains most of the afternoon and evening.

Miles travelled today – 0					Total trip miles – 2382