32.04 Chamonix Mont-Blanc: Lac Blanc, a stunning day, hike and views.
"Eat your heart out, Sir Edmund..." well, it's a poor joke. Every so often , one wakes and is ready to face the day with verve. This happened on Friday. However, the peak we were planning to reach did not seem to match the mood. So we looked elsewhere and found something that seemed irresistible. We did quick research, made a few plans and set out for the next town. Thereafter, it was just one high after another as we climbed to Lac Blanc, a lake from which Mont Blanc can be viewed, at least, from the hill above the lake. More than that, the short but steep climb, normally 2 hours, allows a hiker views of the amazing mountains of the region at each stage of the way. At the lake sits a refuge, perhaps the busiest one we have seen in Europe. People of all nationalities were on the patio, in the restaurant and on the trails soaking up the sun, downing beers, coffee and eating gourmet meals at exorbitant prices. It was a real happening. What is remarkable in Europe, ...