Tour du Mont Blanc (Mont Blanc Circuit)
July 4 - July 20, 2014
Part Two - Tour du Mont Blanc - Chamonix, France to Courmayeur, Italy
Page Seven - Hike 5 - Vallee des Glaciers to Courmayeur, Italy
We were transferred by van a short distance to Vallee des Glaciers
and hiked over the Col de la Seigne to descend into Italy
and the tourist town of Courmayeur. Here a dog rests comfortably
in front of his home. He paid little attention to us as we hiked by.
Another long valley to hike across before climbing. We were still
experiencing overcast conditions on this hike.
Col de la Seigne, the border between France and Italy.
You can see the green Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB)
directional sign.
Descending down into our first Italian valley.
Lower parts of Mont Blanc Massif are to the left.
Our first very brief view of Mont Blanc on the guided
portion of our trip.
In the far distance you can see the moraine of the Glacier du Miage,
where Stephane, Jeff and I did a side hike.
Wary marmot. Marmots in the Alps try to
stay out of view of hikers.
At an interpretive center in Italy. They had a great geology exhibit.
Nearing the moraine of the Glacier du Miage,
which once dammed up the valley to form a lake.
The straight road was built by the Italian army.
The Glacier du Miage has retreated a long way.
It was a surprise to see columbine.
Mountain stream
Looking back at some of the area we had hiked that day.
The Col de la Seigne, where we crossed from France into Italy,
is on the center-left horizon.
Glacial lake within the Glacier du Miage, that Jeff & Pat went to with
Stephane.
Lake is named Lac du Miage. Aiguille Noire de Peuterey peaks
her head
out through the clouds.
Aiguille Noire de Peuterey close-up
Back on the road after the side hike.
Bar/Restaurant where we were picked up
for the ride into the Italian town of Courmayeur.
View from our hotel room in Courmayeur looking at some
of the town.
Street full of tourists in Courmayeur. We arrived early enough in
Courmayeur to have time to take showers, change clothes, and walk
around the tourist part of town.
Local church
View of the Mont Blanc Massif from a town plaza
Baby on a pedestrian street in Courmayeur, Italy
Women admiring a couple's twin babies on a tourist street
Close-up of the twins
Looking west at Mont Blanc massif from Courmayeur.
Mont Blanc summit is in clouds. A tunnel for auto traffic connects
Courmayeur with Chamonix.
We saw a lot of little flower gardens in carved-out logs
on our trip, both in larger towns and at farmhouses in the mountains.
View of the Alps standing next to our hotel
The hotel where we stayed one night in Courmayeur. Some tour
companies take a rest day for their hikers in Courmayeur. On our
guided trip, we had no rest days and 10 straight days of hiking. This
was in addition to the 4 days Jeff and I hiked from Chamonix before the
start of the guided circuit tour.
Jeff relaxing in front of our hotel in Courmayeur,
proudly sporting his Chamonix baseball cap.
Another view from our room in Courmayeur, looking east,
away from Mont Blanc Massif. Mountains were all around us.
Link to Part Three Page Eight - Courmayeur to La Vachey, Italy
Pat's Home Page