King of the Mountains

26-30 December 2011
Chris had a week off of work between Christmas and New Years so we went to Chamonix, FR which is one of his favorite places.

We took the dog because I was feeling bad she hasn't been on a trip with us in a while.  We stayed outside of the city in Les Houches at Les Campanules which was a surprisingly inexpensive, but great hotel with incredible views of Mont Blanc.

After a walk with the dog Chris and I headed to the city center which is mostly pedestrian streets lined with good eats and great shopping. 

The next day we headed to the slopes!

The following day was so clear and the perfect opportunity to take the highest cable car in the world to the top of Aiguille du Midi.  The first section of the trip starts in Chamonix and ends at Plan de l'Aiguille at 2317m (7602 ft).  Next was another cable car.  This section is the longest single span cableway in the world with a change in elevation of 1471m (4826 ft).  And it scared me to death!

But the view from the top is amazing!

Piton Nord where you can take another cable way to Italy (Helbronner Point/Torino).

Once up there I immediately felt dizzy and nauseous.  I don't think it was just the elevation change, but also the terrifyingly fantastic trip up the mountain. 

After a couple of minutes sitting down and composing myself I was fine.  Just a little weak in the knees!  If you think I'm kidding there was a young lady that passed out on the way down who was next to me.  The operator did mention that it happens regularly. 
 

And this is why a lot of people come up.  It is the start for skiing the Vallee Blanche.  12.5 miles of skiing on a glacier.  Next time for sure! 

Start of Vallee Blanche.  Experienced guides and climbing gear highly recommended.  While I was there a rescue helicopter flew by. 

They say the most dangerous part is actually getting to the start site on the Arete.  Skiers die here each and every year.  It is a 45 degree pitch on both sides.  One leading straight to Chamonix. 

Chamonix Valley

Mont Blanc which is another 986m (3235 ft) higher. 



After coming back down to planet earth, we got aboard a cute old cog-wheeled train and headed to the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice).

People were just getting back from hiking on the glacier.  I don't know if they knew they were 20ft away from a giant crevasse? 

800 steps down and 800 steps up!  At the bottom was an ice cave. 

Mer de Glace covered in snow, la Verte and les Grandes Jorasses in the background. 

Standing in front of Le Dru at Montenvers. 

Back safe and sound at the train station.

We had another day of skiing planned the next day and headed hopefully up the gondola into the thickest fog I've ever seen (including Logan, UT).  We never came out of the fog and it was miserable conditions especially being on a mountain we didn't know real well.  Needless to say, we ended a little early. 

That night we drove about 2 hours to the city of Grenoble where we had planned to meet up with our friends' daughter for dinner.  Soeur Kate Sullivan is currently serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

It was so fun seeing her.  We left for Switzerland around the same time she left for France. So we had our fingers crossed we could meet up sometime while we were there. 

That area of France was expecting a huge snowstorm the following morning so we decided not to chance it and get up as early as we could.  When we made it out to the car there was already a good 7 inches of the fresh stuff!  Fun drive home...