Arrival
My brother Gabriel and me arrived in Chamonix late Friday, June 30. Saturday, July 1rst, we dedicated the day to visit the city and do last shopping and preparations.
Mont Blanc was our target but we needed to become acclimatized to the altitude. Our plan incorporated some days around the Aiguille du Tour area, to get prepared to ascend Mont Blanc on the following weekend (story continues in
Trip Report: Mont Blanc “Our dream becomes true” )
Day 1 – Getting Started - July 2, 2006
From
“Le Tour” highest village of the valley we took the cable car to
“Col de Balme” / “Pass of Balme” (2180m) . The day was exceptional so we could admire the wide views of the
Aiguille Vert, the Drus and Mont Blanc.
We headed to the
Albert I hut (2702m) were we would spent the short night. Before that we could contemplate and admire the
Glacier du Tour and the
Aiguille du Chardonnet (3824m)
Day 2 – First challenge : Aiguille du Tour - July 3, 2006
At dawn we head to the
Col de Tour (3282m) which passes the Swiss border and opens to a fantastic landscape comprising the
Plateau du Trient, on the left the
Aiguille de Tour and on the right the
Aiguilles Dorees.
After short break in
Col de Tour we head to climb the Aiguille du Tour. When reaching the summit, fog covers everything.
Day 3 – High Performance: Aiguilles Dorées – July 4, 2006
Its early morning. Weather looks fine.
Aiguille du Tour has changed of “dress”, we are preparing to see the sun appear in the East, is time for excellent pictures, we are just crossing the
Pass of Plines/Col Droit when sun appears.
Aiguille the Tour - Dawn
Aiguilles Dorées
Col Droit - Sunrise !!!
We then descend to the
Glacier de Saleina and make a rest in the small
hut-bivouac des Dorées (3010m). After recovering some energy and admiring the beautiful landscape we proceed to the south corridor that ends in the
Pass of Saleina where we can admire the landscape with
Aiguille de Argentiere presiding.
Saleina Pass
Glacier de Saleina and Aiguille de Argentiere.
Day 4 – Back to Boxes : Col de Balme & Chamonix – July 5, 2006
The following day we return to
Col de Balme and to
Chamonix. The experience has been excellent. We now pray to have good weather for the following Saturday when we will climb the Mont Blanc. We are excited and ready to face the challenge.
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