Sep 10, 2011 - We're here!

We arrived safely in Chamonix-Mont Blanc after an uneventful journey from SLC to Paris to Geneva and finally to Chamonix. We ended up flying from Paris to Geneva after researching the train and discovering that it would take 8 hours with 6 train changes. We didn't think that would be a wise thing to do while sleep deprived. So instead it took an hour and ten minute flight, plus a 90 minute bus ride. The only hiccup in the whole trip was that Chuck's bag did not arrive with us in Geneva. We received a phone call just moments ago informing us...

Sep 28, 2010 - The Hike: Day 1 - Chamonix Rail Station - Argentiere

It was like picking up a 200 pound dead guy with straps. That’s the best way to describe the feeling of sitting on the curb at the railway station and leaning forward to stand as the thick padded waist and shoulder straps of my Osprey 85 backpack dug into my body and threatened not to release no matter how hard I pulled. Inside my bag was actually just a shade under 100 pounds consisting of rain gear, snow gear, warm weather hiking gear, water bottles, food food and more food. When I say food 3 times I refer to the fact that Adam and I were...

Jul 17, 2010 - Wondering Chamonix

I was actually staying in argentiere and not chamonix so I had not been to chamonix. I decided to spend my day there today. It is a cute little town with beautiful views on all sides of it. I got my first French macroon today and I am addicted! They are so delicious! I went to a park and read and took a nap then headed back to the chalet for dinner and sleep. When I got bak to the chalet, I realized that I lost my journal! I think I left it on the overnight train to chambery. I am so disappointed with myself for losing it, but there is...

Jul 16, 2010 - A hike to The White Lake

Today, I hiked up to the white lake. It was a beautiful hike and not quite as tough as the hike yeasterday. The only downside was that there were a lot of people at the lake. So I ate my lunch then hiked up a snowy ridge to where I could look over the valleys and mountains with no people around. It was very peaceful. I sat there for about an hour until it got too cold.

Jul 15, 2010 - The Glacier!

I decided this morning to hike up to the nearest glacier. The guy at the chalet I was staying told me it was tough and boy wa he right. The first two and a half hours were straight up the mountain. No switchbacks or anything. Just straight up. My thighs were burning and ibhad to give myself small goals just to keep going. I finally made it to the glacier and it was all worth it! It was huge and beautiful. I could have sat up there all day and night if I had the option. The views from where I was were stunning. I could see mountains all...

Jun 30, 2010 - drive to Chamonix and next day

We left Provence after our breakfast of breads and pastries, juice and hot chocolate. The ladies came and gave us a great French send off. I decided to head back up to the wine area to Vaison du la Romaine. TomTom is a pain in the butt as all GPS’s .are . She sends us through back alleys, rugged unpaved ruts and out of the way places. It can be fun if you have nothing to do and plenty of time. The worst part is when she is just wrong and wastes our valuable time. And of course we made mistakes too. But if you go with the flow you will be...

Jun 30, 2010 - Chamonix-Mont Blanc, France

Today we left Wassen Switzerland, hopped on the Susten Pass and traversed through northern Italy before crossing over into France. The weather has changed dramatically from hot to cold as we travel through the Alps but it feels great and we have been warmed to dress warmer, i.e winter clothing, for our trip up to Mont Blanc where we'll be almost 16,000 ft above sea level. We will see snow and the temps could be below freezing. But who wanted to bring winter clothing with them on a summer trip through Europe right? Well, as we arrived to...

Aug 19, 2009 - Chamonix-Mont Blanc

We took another little side trip for 2 nights to Chamonix, France. I had skied near there many years ago, and wanted to drive the pass from Switzerland. It was really a fun trip. We left early in the morning, trying to escape the heat. We drove south for about an hour, to a place called Kandersteg; then put the bike on a train to go through the tunnel to Goppenstein. That was a little nerve racking. I had no idea how to tie the bike down. I have tied bikes on boats before, but the system was completely different. I managed to get a half...

Apr 23, 2009 - Zermatt - Chamonix, The Bonus Day

After a leisurely breakfast we packed everything back up and set out for the lifts. James' plan was to take the lifts up to the very top, we'd climb the Breithorn (a mountain beside the Matterhorn) and then we'd ski down the other side to a town called Cervinia in Italy. We'd then be picked up by a shuttle bus for the trip back to Chamonix. The only worry of the day was whether Bruce's ski would hold together. The binding had pulled out of the ski on the way to Vignettes Hut so he attempted a repair at the hut which barely got him to...

Apr 16, 2009 - Aiguille Rouge

Well, here we are at the end of day 2, we haven’t left Chamonix yet and we’ve now used pretty much all of the new gear we bought. So much for Pam’s hope that it would sit in the bottom of the pack for the entire trip and not be required! We started out by taking the bus to La Flegere and arrived to find the cable car wasn’t yet open because it was too windy. Luckily we didn’t wait long before it started up and there were no big crowds today so it was a pleasant, roomy ride up. We had to take a poma lift to get to our starting point where...

Apr 15, 2009 - The Vallee Blanche and Mer de Glace

Whew, what a day! After breakfast (where Bob L told us the secret to boiling the perfect egg at Chamonix elevation), we walked through Chamonix to the Aiguille du Midi Telepherique on the opposite side of the valley from Le Brevent. There we got our first taste of the Euro way to line up (you get your elbows up and cut in front of as many people as possible). We were crammed into the cable (or is that cattle?) car and rode up 2807m to an elevation of 3842m. The Telepherique itself is an engineering marvel, built on sheer cliffs and...

Apr 14, 2009 - Geneva, Switzerland to Chamonix, France

We lugged our 2 large duffel bags, 2 suitcases, large ski bag and 2 small carry on bags back to the Geneva Airport and met some of the team. Arriving from Calgary were Bruce Millar from Lake O’Hara, guide James Blench, our friend Tony Griffin and Bob Cameron a soon to be new friend. We piled into a van that James had arranged and were driven the 2 hours to Chamonix,France crossing the Swiss border on the way. The views got more spectacular as we drove; culminating is magnificent views of Mont Blanc, soaring above us at over 15,000 ft. We...