Tour du Mont Blanc

We find ourselves at the tip of the Glacier du Miage which stretches almost to the top of Mont Blanc. The end of the glacier is almost completely covered in rocks that it has ground out and picked up on its way down. Whilst most take a rest I take the opportunity to walk on it. It is like a lunar land scape. The rocks are jutting out at all angles, some are huge and trapped in the ice and some are small just coating the top like hundreds and thousands sprinkled over the top of grandma's Sunday cake. Every now and then there is a huge crack as if to confirm that it is still alive and on the move. It is a dangerous place to be. There are small areas that are showing the bluest of ice from these ancient mountains. I decide to re-join the group and make my way of this beautiful but hellish place.

The road to our first stop is admirably straight and can only have been built by the Romans as this was indeed an ancient trade route. It leads directly to the high pass of Col de la Seigne (2515m) and the border and our re-entry back into France. Frank and Keith have shot on ahead so Lee, Graham and I end up pushing the pace on a bit up the Roman road which ends up with a nasty little climb before the refuge. It all seemed innocuous to begin with but as we approached the last steep ascent of a few hundred feet Graham just pushed me and then it was a race to the top and I have no fear in confessing that I came a worn out second. His mountain fitness for a mmmm old (10yrs my senior you work it out) is admirable and shows you that walking continuously in the mountains brings on a whole new kind of fitness. Lee was miles behind (OK few hundred yards) but then he never realised he had enrolled on a walking holiday of this magnitude. I am sure he won't mind me saying that I found this absolutely hilarious.

Light refreshments at this spot with views back down the Val Veny and the sunshine on my back was fantastic. I felt great. Not a care in the world with a totally blank and stress free mind. I guess this is what mountains bring to me and why I spend much of my free time on them. Its not that I have a stressful life it is just the peace and tranquility I find when I am there. Try it, just once, it works.

The second part of the climb today brought us to the Col de la Seigne. Before we reach the col we arrive at a climbing museum which soon became a refuge from the piercing wind that was by now extremely cold and relentlessly buffeting our faces along with fierce snow flurries. The museum which by the way is miles away from anywhere was manned by two extremely nice ladies who proceeded to explain all about the surrounding climbing history. After a brief interlude from the weather it was a case of "once more unto the breach my friends". The weather had not improved but we pushed on over snow fields to the col whereupon the weather sharply improved and the sun shone once more.

Now we are back in France and it is all downhill from here (the walk that is) to the campsite at Les Chapieux which is a small hamlet only inhabited in the summer months. As we drop down into the valley we notice that there is some kind of military manoeuvres taking place. Several troop carrying trucks are milling about with not much going on. A typical government waste of money that seems endemic in all governments of the world.

We stop at the Refuge des Mottets and have a late lunch, oh and a beer for me, well the sun is shining and I am on my hols when all is said and done. There is still a long way to go, about six miles tab in on road. Graham decides to go ahead in order to catch a farm dairy open where he is hoping to purchase some fine cheese to go towards lunch tomorrow. He also wants to meet Lewis and bring the van up the road to give the option to those with weary legs a ride in. Matt and I are handed the task of getting the group down to the meeting point. It is not a difficult task but I suppose with our joint mountain experience it makes sense.

We soon meet the van and one or two take the ride. The rest of us push on albeit downhill but my legs are tired. We pass one or two more troops on the way down this green and pleasant valley then soon arrive at our campsite for the night. It is quite an exposed site and understandably not open all year round. On the way to our erected tents (thanks Lewis) we pass the Auberge de la Nova a hotel and restaurant which will be the venue for a cooked meal and several beers.

I dump my kit in the tent and Ted and wander back up to the watering hole and join the already drinking Lewis and Graham for a few light refreshments. A couple of hours soon pass before we enjoy our evening meal. A couple more beers later we all move off to the tents as we have an early start tomorrow. Now there's a change.