1. Aiguille du Midi
1. Aiguille du Midi
While in Chamonix Linda and I take the cable cars up to the Aiguille du Midi.
Let your eyes follow the cables up to the top where that tiny pointy thing is the destination.
Let your eyes follow the cables up to the top where that tiny pointy thing is the destination.
Let your eyes follow the cables up to the top where that tiny pointy thing is the destination.
The lower section of the Aiguille du Midi is in the foreground and far below is Chamonix, at the bottom of the valley.
The lower section of the Aiguille du Midi is in the foreground and far below is Chamonix, at the bottom of the valley.
The lower section of the Aiguille du Midi is in the foreground and far below is Chamonix, at the bottom of the valley.
2. Aiguille du Midi
2. Aiguille du Midi
It's 2009 and we've returned to Chamonix to hike the Haute Route to Zermatt. Gives me a second opportunity to take the cable car to the top and, if weather permits, the tiny cable car all the way to Helbronner in Italy.
It's 2009 and we've returned to Chamonix to hike the Haute Route to Zermatt. Gives me a second opportunity to take the cable car to the top and, if weather permits, the tiny cable car all the way to Helbronner in Italy.
It's 2009 and we've returned to Chamonix to hike the Haute Route to Zermatt. Gives me a second opportunity to take the cable car to the top and, if weather permits, the tiny cable car all the way to Helbronner in Italy.
A river flows through the charming town.
A river flows through the charming town.
A river flows through the charming town.
3. Aiguille du Midi
3. Aiguille du Midi
Even looking through the cable car's scratched and reflective glass it's a great view.
Even looking through the cable car's scratched and reflective glass it's a great view.
Even looking through the cable car's scratched and reflective glass it's a great view.
Since the weather was perfect (the cable car doesn't run in bad weather) we rode the tiny 4-person car across the glacier from Aiguille du midi to Helbronner. It's f-ing spectacular.
Since the weather was perfect (the cable car doesn't run in bad weather) we rode the tiny 4-person car across the glacier from Aiguille du midi to Helbronner. It's f-ing spectacular.
Since the weather was perfect (the cable car doesn't run in bad weather) we rode the tiny 4-person car across the glacier from Aiguille du midi to Helbronner. It's f-ing spectacular.
4. Stuck on the Vallée Blanche
4. Stuck on the Vallée Blanche
But what a beautiful ride this is, eerily silent, just fluffy snow below and mountain peaks all around. The cable is called the Valle Blanche aerial tramway and it runs between the Aiguille du Midi in France and Pointe Helbronner in Italy. The tiny glass cars ride a 5 km-long cable, one of the highest and longest in the world, as they pass over a glacier dotted with ant-trails of mountain climbers.
I'm listening to Moby's Porcelain.
It's one of the longest cable spans on earth, and it's eerily quiet and beautiful. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
It's one of the longest cable spans on earth, and it's eerily quiet and beautiful. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
It's one of the longest cable spans on earth, and it's eerily quiet and beautiful. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
On the trip back from Helbronner to Aiguille du Midi we shared a car with some fellow northern Califonians.
On the trip back from Helbronner to Aiguille du Midi we shared a car with some fellow northern Califonians.
On the trip back from Helbronner to Aiguille du Midi we shared a car with some fellow northern Califonians.
