E-Mails from Europe

July 14, Saas Fee

Hi, Everyone,

Trying to send an e-mail from every city seems to have been possible after all, although difficult at times. There is only one place in Saas Fee. Two more cities to go.

In Chamonix, we had a good time despite the rain. The bad weather in the mountains, with passes closed, even made the International Herald Tribune! We had a room with a view but no view until the last morning. We were about to ask the concierge if one could see Mt. Blanc from town, when 1/2 hour before we left, the skies cleared and there is was. It was certainly beautiful even for the 1/2 hour.

Mt. Blanc from the Rail station

L'Aiguille du Midi from the valley

On the first day, we hiked in the rain along the Grand Balcony South with no view.

The second day, we toured the Aiguille du Midi in the clouds. Aiguille means spires, so these spires were in the middle of the mountains. The Midi did clear up for 10 minutes so we did see a few sites. The ride up in the tram was almost straight up and I took theses eerie pictures, one displayed here. Click here to see the others!

Heading up to the Aiguille du Midi

Jim arriving at the midway point in the snow

jim and Roz by a sign that shows the various platforms

The Mer de Glace from above

The ice cave at the Mer de Glace

We were in Chamonix for three nights and two full days. These were the first days of our 9 days in the alps. We arrived in Chamonix with a completely unstructured trip and no reservations for 10 nights and 9 full days. After a day or two in Chamonix we became anxious about getting reservations so based on various factors, we solidified our plans and on the morning of the second day, I called ahead and made reservations in Saas Fee and Zermatt while Jim hiked to Midway point to the Midi. Below I have a list of our plans which will appear at the end of the next pages. I will add in our hikes as we go along.

Our last morning in Chamonix, the sun came out and we say the Midi and Mt. Blanc. We caught the train to Sass Fee early, around 8:30 and arrived in Saas Fee around 1:00 pm.

Roz and Jim

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/    \^^^/   \***/   \^^^/    \***/    \
Roz Dudden and Jim Mills
From our hotmail.com e-mail address while traveling abroad!
Accessed irregularly from mountain tops and cafes
in England, France and Switzerland.
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Hiking activity list

July 10:

day: TGV train Paris to Belgarde; train to Chamonix

night: Chamonix

July 11:

day 1: Jim: Up to PlanPraz 2 hours; Jim and Roz: Grand Balcony South, PlanPraz to Le Flegere, 3 hours

night: Chamonix

July 12:

day 2: Jim: Up to Midi Midway point. 3 hours

night: Chamonix