Tour du Mont Blanc

Our first stop is at Refuge de Bellachat at the start of the "Grand Balcon Trail" where we are only three or four miles away from where we started twelve days previously. The views from here are some of the best especially as the weather is excellent. Mont Blanc and its surrounding massif are visible although some cloud is hanging about menacingly. The group are enjoying some of the last vistas for a while as the walking side to the holiday is nearly over. The walk from this point to Le Brevent is excellent, almost like a ridge walk. The terrain is quite rocky here and it finishes with a steep climb to the top and Hayley is ceremonially pushed to the front to reach the top. Well it has been her birthday on this holiday and she is the most improved walker in my eyes.

Once at the top there are celebrations and relief for all after a very hard ascent indeed. Many photographs are taken but not from me I just want to savour the moment as these views will be forever etched on my mind. Sure I took a couple of pictures but I just wanted to remember this myself and not just be reminded from a photograph. Photos are great as they take you back to the moment but only because they retell it. When the moment is cemented on your mind you don't need reminding its just there and can never be lost or taken away. I can see those mountains as perfect as if I was standing there right now.

We have only a couple of miles to drop down to the cable car at Planpraz which will take us down to Chamonix. The fun begins as we have to drop down through some of the largest snow fields we have encountered during our whole trip. In one particular field we all slide down for a hundred metres or so on our bottoms. If I had not witnessed it myself I would not have believed it. The most unsure footed person of the group and first to go is Hayley. This is the girl who twelve days ago was frightened of these snow fields. But not anymore, as she slides down screaming her head off the sheer delight on her face is plain for all to see. We have a strong group now that has learned much from our journey together. Whilst most of us will probably not see each other again it just shows me that when things are tough people come together.

After a short cable car ride down we all have a celebratory drink in a bar in Chamonix aptly named "The Pub" which is nice. Not too long here though for tonight we are going out for dinner to the brewery pub which Graham duly arranges. After everyone is showered up we take the train back into Chamonix and then walk to the brewery. This place is full of atmosphere and the night seems to go so fast. There is a group of about twenty Austrians celebrating becoming International Mountain Guides and the beer is well and truly flowing. Lee and I head off back into the main street of Chamonix and have a few more beers before heading back to the campsite at Les Bossons.