Being from Colorado, I was always biased to our mountains. Although, it was really all I knew. I spent most winter weekends traveling up to Summit County, where the starting elevation was around 9,000ft. At the top of the mountain, it was around 11,000ft give or take, so standing at the foot of them wasn’t all that dramatic. Though my love for Summit County will always shine in my heart.
I remember my first real jaw-drop in Colorado, when I visited the Maroon Bells in Aspen in the fall. Then my second jaw-drop, when I visited Telluride. Both have more dramatic mountain ranges due to lower valleys. Each experience I had in Colorado from childhood to early adulthood confirmed my love for the mountains and left me craving more. So when we moved close to Europe, my first order of business was seeking out the biggest and best Alp destinations. First came the Swiss Alps in Lauterbrunnen Valley, then came the Italian Dolomites, both the most awe-inspiring mountain peaks I’ve ever witnessed,
then came Chamonix.
Time and time again the Alps continue to shock me to my core. There’s nothing quite like starting from a 200ft valley and looking up at a 13,000ft land formation.
I remember first seeing a photo of the town of Chamonix on a Pinterest scroll when I was in early college. I was in disbelief that it was real. Can confirm, it’s real. And it’s just as beautiful as you’d think. It was surreal finally being in a place I’ve only day dreamt about.
We flew into Geneva, rented a car and headed straight to our Airbnb in the town center. We always enjoy hanging in ski towns in the summer, grabbing drinks, listening to live music, and especially loving on all the mountain dogs! The weather is always an escape from the scorching heat and the environment is just as bustling, just with hikers instead of skiers.
We were itching to join those hikers the next day which would turn out to be one the coolest and most challenging hikes we’d done in a while.
Normally, you can hike to Lac Blanc by taking a cable car from Chamonix center to the top of La Flegere. From there, it’s only about a 1.5 hour hike to the hut. However, that cable car was under construction. So we started our journey by taking the train from Chamonix main station to Col des Montets, where we found the trailhead and started our ascent.
Within about 4 hours, we had gained about 3,500ft in elevation, complete with several ladder climbs that were built into the rocks (see Instagram highlighted stories - it was pretty epic). Because of this, though, I’d label this hike moderate-difficult depending on your fitness level and sensitivity to heights. The trail is well-marked with signed to Lac Blanc all the way through, so it’s easy to navigate. Plus, if you’re hiking midday in the summer, you’ll certainly have lot of company, many hiking the Tour Du Mount Blanc.
With every turn and every step, the infamous Mount Blanc was in view, along with accompanying glaciers and jagged peaks. We finally reached Lac Blanc, where there was a refuge with people eating and enjoying the scene. We were gutted we couldn’t stay overnight at this refuge because it books out pretty far in advance. So if you’re planning a trip to do this hike, highly recommend staying here so you can shoot sunrise/sunset! You can eat at the refuge without being a guest, but we ended up bringing our own food.
You really can’t beat this view. Turquoise blue glacial water and snowy peaks on a bluebird day. Serene.
The descent was not without its challenges, as we weren’t going to make it in time to catch another cable car down to Chamonix. It took another 3.5 hours to get all the way back down to Col des Montets, so by the time we finished we were OVER IT. But the views did not stop on the descent.
Next time you’re in Chamonix in the summer, add the Lac Blanc hike to your list! It’s a challenging, yet totally surreal experience that any mountain person would be stoked to embark on.
After our time in Chamonix, Ry and I headed to the beautiful Lake Annecy for the remainder of our time in the French Alps. Less camera time, more swimming, lakeside picnics, scooter riding and sun bathing. It was a perfect trip to reconnect after a 6 month deployment. Cheers to more adventures!
