Chamonix

On the Brevent trail, with low clouds and Mont Blanc peak at the top of the mountain range

If you enjoy outdoor activities and is a great nature and mountains fan, you should not give Chamonix a miss! The mountain scenery surpasses one’s wildest expectation and the hiking trails through the alpine pastures offer superb views of the Chamonix valley, the Mont Blanc range, Aiguilles Rouges mountains and neighbouring Switzerland.

 

Our hikes were always rewarded with the panoramic view of the mountains, glaciers and valleys. Not only that, it was the berry season and I had a fantastic time picking and feasting on the wild and succulent blueberries along the trails. Certain trails brought us close to the glaciers like the beautiful Argentiere glacier and we had a great walk on the Mer de Glace glacier, even though we did not have crampons on and had to be really careful not to walk too close the crevices.

We also witnessed the Ultra Trail Tour du Mont-Blanc which is a mountain ultra-marathon that takes place yearly in the Alps. The marathon route spans through France, Italy and Switzerland. The total distance is about 160 KM with a total elevation gain of around 8500 meters. The fastest runner completed the race in just 22 hours and the slowest was in 44 hours. The eldest participant was a 70 year old man. Gosh, what an amazing feat to complete this marathon!