Spectacular Scenery / Idylic Rides: Chamonix
After a week spent sightseeing in Edinburgh we flew to Geneva, Switzerland where we collected a shuttle to France's renowned ski mecca Chamonix.
This was the meeting / assembly place for my biking chums to spent a few days before commencing our Alpine cycling adventure.
Chamonix is surrounded by a necklace of rugged peaks with stunning views of Mont Blanc. Summer's here offer hiking, rock climbing, parasailing, river rafting, as well as sightseeing via aerial cable cars and rail. The days we spent here were warm with perfect evenings to go strolling.
Le Brévent Blanc & Aquille Du Midi from Le Brévent Pramplanz
Until the turn of the century Chamonix was thought of as a summer destination. But that changed when skis from Norway were brought here in 1893. After that winters became popular using for ski touring and exploring.
Formal downhill skiing came with the development of the Brévent Cable Cars which allowed Chamonix to expand from a summer destination to a full winter skiing destination.
Today the Brévent gondolas whisk visitors and skiers from Chamonix to Planpraz where there are multiple ski runs. Then from Planpraz the Brévent cable car completes the journey to the top of the mountain where hikers and rock climbers fill the mountain.
When the skies above Chamonix are filled with parasailers may be found lifting off from the top of Planpraz. Planpraz also provides a starting point for mountain bikers to ride down the mountains on the ski areas cat tracks.
With skiing Chamonix's fame grew immensely. First by hosting an international ski competition in 1908 and then by serving as the venue for the world's first Winter Olympiad in 1924.
Le Brévent - Chamonix Becomes a Ski Destination
27 years later (in 1955) the Aquille Du Midi Cable Car was completed. This engineering marvel could transport skiers 9,200 ft from the village floor to an elevation 12,605 ft. From there you can climb even higher using elevators that lift you to the very top of the Aquille Du Midi.
At the top is a wonderland of year round glaciers. This cable car ushered in the prospect of year round / summer skiing.
On clear days the top of the tram affords perfect views of Mont Blanc, views of fearless rock climbers, and even a step into "The Void" (the glass box suspended over the shear mountain flank.) The void is totally touristy and a lot of fun.
Nowadays, in summer the Aquille cable car can be very crowded so plan ahead and reserve your ticket in advance. Remember, even on a warm summer day in Chamonix, the temperatures at the top can plunge. Take a coat, a hat, sunblock, and sunglasses.
Being pretty upscale, Chamonix is filled with restaurants of every caliber from casual to Michelin. We reserved a dinner in the forest at L'Index. At this restaurant forget about menu's. After you are seated you will be asked if there are foods you don't like or might have some form of sensitivity to. Then they take the list to the chef who creates meals guests using whatever is fresh. The only choice you have is how many courses you want to enjoy.
Our evening at L'index was delicious, relaxing, and fun. The food was wonderfully creative and our table was visited by friendly dogs and cats.
If you have an agenda and somewhere you'll have to be, go some place else. L'Index is an evening well spent. And, unless you are a local, you won't easily find this place. book a cab.
On day three a host from Vermont Bike Tours met us in our hotel lobby and our time in Chamonix drew to a close via a shuttle to Saillon, Switzerland to begin cycling.
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