Courmayeur

Mont Blanc from observation deck

Looking down to "Courmayeur

We met some Brits yesterday at Refugio Elizabetta who told us about the Skyway Mont Blanc, a cable car from Courmayeur that runs up and over the Mont Blanc massive to Chamonix, France. As this is our "sightseeing" day we had to go and it was fabulous, worth every euro. The trip to the top (and Italian border) cost 40 euro (32 euro for over 65!!). It would have cost another 160 euro to go to Chamonix and first we thought "those French" but then learned the cable car on the Italian side carries up to 80 people, the one on the French side carries 4! It was quite amazing, the observation deck at the top station was at 3466M (11371 feet), just 1350M below the Mont Blanc summit. You stand on the observation platform in your warmest jacket looking up at the summit and down on glaciers. We felt the altitude, and exposure, as we picked out yesterdays and tomorrow's trails across the valleys below .There was a lot to do at the two Italian stations: a crystal exhibit (Mont Blanc is one of the best places in the world for pink quartz), cafes and restaurants, gift stores, and an alpine garden with 900 species.

Tonight we are meeting some fellow hikers for dinner, then early to bed before our 1000 M elevation gain/hike up the mountain ridge tomorrow morning. Weather is getting a bit cooler but that makes for perfect hiking. No posts tomorrow as we will be at Refuge Bonatti, another alpine hut.