Aiguille du Midi
At the beginning of summer, I went to Chamonix to visit Aiguille du Midi, a mountain next to Mont Blanc and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area: It can easily be accessed by cable car from the valley and, with the highest viewing platform located at the 3842m summit, it offers the best view on the Mont Blanc, the surrounding glaciers and the Chamonix valley.
When I visited in June, advance reservations for a specific time slot were not available and I had to wait ~1h after buying my ticket to board the gondola. The cable car ride was divided into 2 sections: The first got me to the intermediate station of Plan de l’Aiguille at 2317m and then I switched to another gondola to reach the upper station of Téléphérique de l’Aiguille du Midi at 3777m. Finally, I boarded a short elevator to reach the actual summit. There was a great view from up there, as expected. It was also quite thin in oxygen and I felt a bit lightheaded and short of breath. There was a long line for the Pas dans le Vide (Step into the Void), a glass box attached to the cliff of the mountain, so I passed. After the summit, I visited the other platforms below, which also offered a great view. In all, I spent about 1h30 at the top.
After the visit, I didn’t go back to Chamonix directly but stopped instead at Plan de l’Aiguille in order to visit Lac Bleu and hike the Grand Balcon Nord to Montenvers.
Above, Chamonix - Aiguille du Midi train station, coming from Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet.
Above, the lower station of Téléphérique de l’Aiguille du Midi, in Chamonix.
Above, the cable car and the tip of Aiguille du Midi.
Above, Mont Blanc, Dôme du Goûter and Glacier des Bossons. I walked around the center of Chamonix while waiting for my time slot on the gondola.
Above, gondola arriving.
Above, almost ready to board.
Above, Aiguille du Midi seen from the intermediate station of Plan de l’Aiguille.
Above, view from the upper station.
Above, viewing platform at the summit.
Above, other viewing platforms close to the upper station.
Above, it didn’t feel too crowded but there were still a lot of people.
Above, waiting for the elevator to the summit.
Above, Mont Blanc and Mont Blanc du Tacul.
Above, the highest viewing platform at 3842m.
Above, Vallée Blanche.
Above, a lower platform.
Above, Dent du Géant and Grandes Jorasses.
Above, Aiguille Verte.
Above, towards the Aravis mountains.
Above, glacier below.
Above, Dôme du Goûter.
Above, La Jonction and Glacier des Bossons.
Above, glass box of Pas dans le Vide. From what I saw, you get a minute in the box while an attendant takes a few pictures.
Above, Désert de Platé.
Above, panorama from the summit.
Above, Pointe Helbronner, above Courmayeur in Italy. There is another cable car called Panaoramic Mont Blanc that goes there starting from Aiguille du Midi but it was not yet open for the season when I visited.
Above, a lower platform I visited after getting down from the summit.
Above, Glacier des Bossons.
Above, Aiguille du Goûter.
Above, another platform.
Above, summit of Mont Blanc.
Above, mountaineers training.
Above, the guy on the other side of the barrier was a window cleaner.
Above, Le Tube.
Above, Mont Blanc.
Above, in Le Tube.
Above, summit terrace of Aiguille du Midi.
Above, Aiguilles de Chamonix.
Above, Grandes Jorasses and Dent du Géant.
Above, Aiguilles Rouges and Mont Buet.
Above, Le Brévent and Planpraz.
Above, Vallée de Chamonix.
Above, Plan de l’Aiguille, with Lac Bleu on the lower right.
Above, on my way to get the cable car down to Plan de l’Aiguille.
Above, back at the station of Plan de l’Aiguille.
