24th June - 2nd August 2001
* Tour of Mont Blanc: 190km circuit around the Mountain Massif
* One week Mountaineering Course in Switzerland
* Trips on the Glaciers around Chamonix and an ascent of Mont Blanc
Tour of Mont Blanc
After 18 hours spent on a Eurolines coach from London; I arrived in Chamonix in the blistering heat for what was to be 5 weeks of fun in the Mountains. As an introduction to the Alps I had decided to walk the Tour of Mont Blanc, a 190km trail with 10,000m of ascent.
Mont Blanc from Italy
Val Ferret
Near the Swiss/French border
Arolla 2001
I spent 5 Days on a Plas y Brenin Alpine Trek Course, improving my glacier travel and crevasse rescue skills. Based from Arolla ( the highest village in Switzerland) 5 days were spent on Glacial Terrain and 4 nights spent in mountain huts.
Ascending Pigne d'Arolla
Alpine Scenery
View across to Pigne d'arolla
Sun rise over the Dix Hut
Vignettes Hut
Mountain Reflections
Chamonix & Mont Blanc
After my Alpine course I was keen to put my newly acquired skills into practice and headed back to Chamonix to do some more serious walks.
Nigel on the Mer de Glace
Mer de Glace
View from Aig. Du Midi
Aig. du Midi (3842m)
Alpine sun rise
Summit of Mont Blanc