31st – Trient – Chamonix

The plan was to start early today as the weather forecast said there would be a risk of thunderstorm. You do not want to get caught out in the open with no protection within reach when lightning starts hitting (it’s a shocking experience, I’ve heard). So at around 0730 we left the refuge in pouring rain. The plan was to reach Col de Balme as soon as possible and from there look at the current weather and decide whether to take a quick or slower path down into the Chamonix valley and catch a bus or train depending on timing back to the hotel in Chamonix.

This was a perfect example why you shouldn't trust the time estimates on the signs placed along the route.

The climb up to Col de Balme was a fairly long one but when crossing the tree line it had stopped raining so that helped a bit. Arriving at the col any potential thunderstorms looked far away so we decided to take a detour past a refuge which had, according to rumors, an amazing dessert platter.

On arrival we found out that because we left our refuge as early as we did in the morning we arrived before the kitchen opened. Luckily they were still able to make the platters so it was a success after all. If it hadn’t been for the threat of thunderstorms we would have used this place for lunch. Instead, after finishing our platters (coffee/chocolate, nut/honey cake, apricot crumble, ice cream, chocolate mousse, whipped cream) we were soon on our way again towards the bottom of the valley.

Around two hours later, at 1345 we arrived at Montroc train station. Perfect timing as the hourly train towards Chamonix departs at minute 48. Half an hour later we were back in Chamonix, ending the trek. We had a late lunch before checking back into the hotel and had much needed showers. The weather had just been improving all the time since the rain ended in the morning but at this point the weather quickly degenerated and we got a massive shower with lightning. It didn’t last long, though, and this was the only time we saw the forecast fabled thunderstorms.

When returning to Chamonix Aiguille du Midi decided to show itself for just a short moment.

Back in Chamonix, waiting for (late) lunch.

We went out for dinner in a restaurant located in a cellar (so much lovely cheese in a cheese fondue – strange) after which some of us went out for a few drinks. It was almost a perfect recipe for a joke; “Two Brits, a Kiwi and a Dane enters a bar…”. Returning to the hotel at 0130 was a bit later than I had planned for myself.