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<\/a><\/p>\nTour du Mont Blanc<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Our group silhouette with the Mont Blanc range in the background. Near Lac des Chesrys. Day 11 of the tour (Aug 27, 2015).\u00a0 \u00a0Img 50297<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mont Blanc, Aug 18, 2015<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Our first hike to the Grand Balcon (Grand balcony) trail provide this view of Mont Blanc.\u00a0 \u00a0 Img 48869<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n les Houches to les Contamines, Aug 19, 2015<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Day 3 of our tour began in the misty rain. We crossed a river where there was a view of the Bonnassay glacier but never saw it. The mist did provide a eitherial view \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Img 48920 I3494 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Tom’s iphone shot by Wam Human<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tom and Barbara,\u00a0 Aug 19, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Tom and Barbara coming up the trail towards les Contamines. Day 3 of our tour.\u00a0 \u00a0 Img 48965<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Water fall near Notre Dame de la Gorge, Aug 20, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n After a few minutes of hiking up an old roman road from Notre Dame de la Gorge, we climbed down into a small gorge to see this water fall. Day 4 of our tour.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49106<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roman Road, Aug 20, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Took this shot looking back toward Notre Dame de la Gorge. The fireweed in the foreground was about to finish blooming. Day 4 of our tour.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49152<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roman Road, Aug 20, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The fourth day of our tour we needed to climb about 4500ft up, 3800ft down and do about 11 miles. The pass is not visible from here but we are going over the saddle on the left and then over the pass behind the rock column on the left peak (called good man).\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49162<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roman Road, Aug 20, 2015<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Our group heading for the pass on day 4. From left to right: Barbara, Sydney, Jane, John, Tom, Andy, Wam, John, and Andrea.\u00a0 \u00a0 Img 49163<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Randy and Tom on the Roman Road, Aug 20, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n First rest stop on our 4,500ft accent toward les Chapieux on the tour de Mont Blanc.\u00a0 \u00a0 Img 49177<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tour du Mont Blanc, Aug 20, 2015<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n View from the trail after the pass. Day 4 of our tour.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49247<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Near les Chapieux, Aug 20, 2015<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Saw this abandoned stone building on the way down into les Chapieux. Likely was used when more cows\/sheep were grazed in the area.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49328<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Auberge de la Nova, Aug 21, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n We spent the night in this auberge before we continued and crossed into Italy on the tour du Mont Blanc. Beginning of day 5.\u00a0 Img 49341<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Toward Courmayeur, Aug 21, 2015<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n On the trail from les Chapieux France to Courmayeur Italy. The pass is on the right side hidden by the foot hill. Day 5 of the tour.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49378<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Refuge Elisabeletta Soldini – Italy – Aug 20, 2016<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Passed by this hut after crossing into Italy from France. Three different glaciers converging in the background. Day 5 of our tour.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49443<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Randy & Tom – Tour du Mont Blanc – Aug 22, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n On a balcony trail after climbing up from Courmayeur, Italy on our way to Bonatti Hut. Day 6 of our tour.\u00a0 Img 49487<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mont Blanc, Aug 22, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The clouds finally parted to get a view of Mont Blanc. We are on our way to Bonatti Hut.\u00a0 Img 49498<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mont Blanc<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Our hiking group on the balcony trail heading for Bonatti Hut. Mont Blanc visible between the clouds and at the bottom of the photo is the tunnel under Mont Blanc. Day 6 of our tour.\u00a0 \u00a0 Img 49522<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mont Blanc Sunset, Aug 22, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Sunset with Mont Blanc from the Bonatti Hut. Rain in the forecast for the next day.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49565<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bonatti Hut, Aug 23, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Leaving Bonatti Hut in the rain on the tour du Mont Blanc. Img 49569<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rain – Mont Blanc, Aug 23, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Our group all geared up for a hike in the rain to La Fouly. Our tour guide, Wam, working hard to keep our spirits up. We climb to our highest point on this trail but spent very little time at the pass because it was cold, raining and windy. Day 7 of the tour.\u00a0 Img 49575<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Switzerland – Tour du Mont Blanc, Aug 23, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Over the pass and into Switzerland in the rain. Day 7 of the tour.\u00a0 \u00a0 Img 49594<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tour du Mont Blanc, Aug 24, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The trail follows along a large wash that keeps eroding the Swiss grassland. Still a few sprinkles but beginning to clear up. Day 8 of the tour.\u00a0 \u00a0 Img 49658<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Issert, Switzerland – Tour du Mont Blanc, Aug 24, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n You can see our group hiking on the left side of the photo. They are going into one of several Swiss hamlets that the Mont Blanc trail goes through. I am behind taking photos of flowers along the trail. Day 8 of the tour.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49743<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lunch by Fabi<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Tom, John, and Jane are digging into the lunch spread created by our guide\/logistics person, Fabi. Hard to lose any weight on this tour.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49749<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mushroom, Aug 24, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The rains brought out the mushrooms of all types. Our guide thought this one was the toxic Amanitus but I am not so sure (but not going to eat it!).\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49771<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Into the Woods – Tour du Mont Blanc, Aug 25, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Day 9 of our tour began in the woods. and we headed for the Bovine trail.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49801<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mushroom on Trail, Aug 25, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Found many unusual mushrooms on the trail in the forest on the Bovine trail.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49843<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bovine Trail, Aug 25, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Finally see some blue sky peeking out as we climb up the Bovine section of the Tour du Mont Blanc.\u00a0 \u00a0 Img 49864<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bovine Trail \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Tour du Mont Blanc, Aug 25, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Cows on the Bovine trail?? The massive bells on the cows is a local tradition to help find the cows in the alpine areas. Each one of these bells are hand crafted and cost about 400 euros.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 49920<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Randy’s Bath with a View \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Aug 25, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Nice view from this bath but the spring water was really cold! (the tub was empty so several of us had some fun with the photos) Img 49942<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bovine Trail Lunch, Aug 25, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Most of our lunches were out in a field with a great view (and a nap afterwards) but this one was from a hut (also with a great view).\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Img 49953<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tour du Mont Blanc, Aug 26, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Great view of the Mont Blanc range as we leave Switzerland and cross back into France. Day 10 of our tour.\u00a0 Img 50038<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Randy Balanced on the Swiss-French Border, Aug 26, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Img 50060 5043i\u00a0 Shot with Wams smartphone<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Img 50060 5043i\u00a0 Shot with Wam’s smartphone<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The group celebrates the mountain view and seeing our final destination. Members of the group from left to right: Wam, Jane, John, Andy, Andrea, Barbara, John, Sydney, Randy and Tom.\u00a0 \u00a0Img 50066<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After Lunch Naps, Aug 26, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Our guide trained us to take a nap after our lunches (I still feel like doing this even now). Tom is doing his nap and taking an occasional peek at the great view.\u00a0 Img 50073<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lac des Chesrys, Aug 27, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Randy taking a swim in the rather cold alpine lake. Did not stay in very long. Wam is in the background jumping back in after swimming to the small island .\u00a0 Img 50250<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aiguille du Midi, Aug 28, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n View from 12,600 feet from Aiguille du Midi after riding two separate cable lifts (from ~ 4000ft).\u00a0 \u00a0Img 50338<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aiguille du Midi, Aug 28, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n View from 12,600 feet toward Mont Blanc (covered in the clouds).\u00a0 \u00a0Img 50385<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cable Lift up to Aiguille du Midi, Aug 28, 2015<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The small tower at the top point is where the cable lift travels to\/from (Aiguille du Midi).\u00a0 Img 50407<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mer de Glace, Chamonix – Aug 28, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) is one of the glaciers traveling down toward Chamonix, France. The glacier once filled the barren area between the mountains. 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