Hiking the balcony route north above the Chamonix valley, facing Mont Blanc. The route varies between about 1950 m. and 2050 m. with noticeable changes in elevation along the way. Starting from the rock desolation of the ski routes around the upper terminal of the Planpraz télécabine, which goes on up to the rocky bergerie of le Brévent (2525 m.). Hiking first on 4WD service roads but then crossing rocky middle mountain terrain. It’s a section of the GR Tour du Mont Blanc but lacks the usual GR trail markers.
The second half of the route was a path through pine forest and over screes including a ladder route up a rocky chimney. This was challenging, not helped by heavy hiking traffic on a small trail, many with inconsiderate hiking manners, ie Me-First.
But beautiful middle-mountain woodland with views to the glaciers and summits opposite of the Mont Blanc Massif. And giddying direct views to the River Arve in the valley almost a kilometre vertically below.
Return to the Chamonix valley by the La Flegère télécabine as a weather front pulled in.
Destination: La Flegère télécabine station (1856 m.)
le Brévent (2525 m.)
La Flegère télécabine station (1856 m.)