Photographing Epic - Mont Blanc
Visiting Aiguille Du Midi, Chamonix
Sometimes, however much you plan, things just don’t go your way…
It was maybe a foreshadowing of things to come. After a lovely few days in and around Zermatt and Tasch (which you can read about HERE), I awoke on departure day to discover my car was under a decent blanket of snow.
No matter, this was after all The Alps. Snow is kind of its thing, after epic views.
After a good strong coffee, I loaded the car up and it was time to leave Switzerland to head back into France. This time, I was headed to Chamonix to tick off the next epic mountain ascent for people with no climbing experience, or indeed the ability to do so.
The drive from Tasch to Chamonix is just over 2hrs depending on traffic. However, I lost count of the jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring vistas that presented themselves as I traversed the alpine roads linking the two countries. Some places are blessed with a natural beauty that’s so arresting, that it’s virtually impossible to verbalise. At times on the journey, I had to pull over to stare at what was before me in silence. No cameras, no noise, just contemplating and appreciating nature’s immensity. I truly hope the locals understand the gift they’re charged with.
As you can imagine, the route was full of ascents and descents through and over valleys. At its highest point, my route turned into Narnia. Snow so thick and virginal blanketed the landscape for miles around. I had to pull over again. This time sending my drone up to fully take in the white expanse, the road I was driving looked like a black ribbon weaving its way through a polar landscape.
As you may garner, what should be a two hour drive took me far longer…
Dear reader, you will be glad to know that I did eventually make it to my hotel in Chamonix. And what a lucky boy I am now and again. For a mere £80 per night, including breakfast, I’d somehow booked the coolest hotel I’ve ever stayed in, Big Sky Hotel, Chamonix. It may be because I’m a 70’s baby, but the decor, like something from a Terrence Conran ‘The House Book’, hit just right, oh yes. Now I’m guessing if you booked during the ski season, you’d be charged a lot more. But as A: I don’t ski, and B: I was there just after the ski set had departed, the price was an absolute steal in my opinion.
By now, you’re possibly thinking, “This is all great Neil, but you haven’t yet got anywhere near Mont Blanc…’
Well yes, apart from the hotel sits below it, as you’ll soon discover, best laid plans are now and again simply laughed at by Mother Nature.
Let’s talk logistics first. Getting around Chamonix centre is safest done on foot. I parked in Parking du Grepon. It’s large, well priced and has direct pedestrian access to the town centre. If you’re aiming for the Aiguille Du Midi cable car, as I was, you’re literally on its flight path by using this parking option and passing its front door on the way from your car to town.
As mentioned there, my aim was to ascend in the cable car to Aiguille Du Midi. At 3842m, it’s fractionally shorter than Matterhorn Paradise, but it offers non-climbers and barely capable perambulators like myself, an unparalleled view of Mont Blanc. Aiguille Du Midi offers similar facilities at the summit, open viewing platforms, cafe, shop, toilets etc. and a glass box photo opportunity as you stand over the void. Tickets are booked online and again, use your phone to scan through the barriers.
Best laid plans. Well, we all know how they go, don’t we? For the previous few weeks, I’d been keeping a close eye on the weather apps and booking nothing until the time for action approached. A day before I was due to go up the Aiguille du Midi, everything looked fine, so I booked my ticket.
The morning arrived. An email was waiting for me saying the weather had forced the facility to delay opening while workers cleared the 50cm of snow that had turned up overnight. Check back later.
To cut a long story short, the weather came back in that morning and indeed decided to dump another 50cm of snow that night too. I therefore had to accept a refund and my quest to ascend over 3800m twice in one week failed.
I spent the rest of the day exploring the area in my car to see if I could find a viewpoint with a good photo opportunity.
I eventually found a good spot with potential, but the weather was really making life difficult for a clear shot of the mountain ranges. I am however pleased with the final shots I got. I think the clouds and mists add to the mystery of the image and it really works well as a black and white shot.
So there is only one answer to my failure I think you’ll agree… I have to go back sometime.
