We drove to Chamonix, put the car into a parking station, and then caught a taxi to the zoo Parc Merlet. Starting here instead of in Les Houches saved us 500 metres of climbing, on a not so exciting section of track.
It ws sunny but cool, with a bit of breeze and some shade to start with. The track climbs steadily through the conifers, then opens out onto grassy slopes. We stopped for drinks at Refuge Bellachat, then continued.
 paragliders |
 alpine meadows |
 rocks and flowers |
We stopped for lunch (sandwiches we'd made in the morning) below Le Brevent, looking out over a pretty little lake and with serried mountain ranges in the distance.
 layered mountain ranges |
 looking up towards Le Brevent |
 pretty little alpine lake |
There were some great views from Le Brevent, which turned out to be the highest point we reached on the trip.
There were lots of people around, with many doing day trips from the top of the cable car — it was also a Sunday. There is a small ecology display here.
 Mont Blanc |
 Aiguilles Rouges |
 Aiguille |
From Le Brevent the track winds through rockier landscapes, with little grass and some patches of snow/ice.
 rocky road |
 a brief walk on ice |
 some of our fellow hikers |
Dinner was a four course meal: a rice, tuna and tomato salad entree (boring), a potato/bacon/cheese melt with preserved meats on the side (good, though something green would have been nice), a cheese plate, and desert (excellent: I went for the chocolate mousse, the others had the apple tart).
While waiting at the table there was a dramatic hailstorm, complete with lightning and thunder and sudden gloom. But it only lasted five minutes and then blew over.
 Mark doing the accounts |
 drinks before dinner |
 dinner |
Breakfast involved fresh croissants, cornflakes, bread and jams, and coffee out of a coffee machine with a bean-grinder on top!
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