Aigulle du Midi

Monday, December 30, 2013
Chamonix Mont Blanc, Rhône-Alpes, France
Next day was the trip into France to Chamonix for the cable car (2) to
Mt Blanc (2800m) . we went via Martigny onto the Mt Blanc Express to
Vallorcine and finally to Chamonix. Unfortunately on this last leg there
was track work and we had to go a short distance by bus, this meant walking
on the snow for about 50m from the station to bus stop, We were in full
cold weather gear because on the ascent of the mountain.
Once we got to Chamonix there was a 15 min walk in the snow to the cable car station
(Aigulle du Midi) for the ascent. This consists of two legs in cable
cars holding about 60 people, today it was packed at end of the second
leg there was an elevator taking up through the rock to a further
lookout. At this station I (and a number of others) were feeling
distinctly odd, lightheaded or vertigo so Leith and I came straight down
again. Subsequently I found out this was mild altitude sickness.
As you can see from the ;photos it a beautiful day brilliant sunshine but
about -15C, with our gear on it was not that cold for a short period of
time at least
On the way back we took another cog train to Montenvers Mer du Glace not as high but unfortunately the Ice Cave was closed.
It was a long day and we did not get back to Montreaux till after 8pm

Went again to the Metropole this time only had rain on the way back
Next day we left on the Golden Panoramic Express fo Luzern via Zweisimen and Bern
More in the next blog

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