Aiguille du Midi

A short raid into France on the occasion of a tour in the Aosta Valley with my wife and our son. Having arrived in France by crossing the border on foot at the Punta Helbronner alpine Refuge in the Mont Blanc Range. From here we took the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi. This cable car is a technological gamble both because of the extreme environment in which it operates and because it covers a long stretch in which the cable does not rest on the pylons. Below us is the so-called "Sea of Ice" that descends from Mont Blanc on the French side. The cabin is cramped and can hold at most four people. Having arrived at the Refuge of the Aiguille du Midi we go up by a fast lift onto the metal Tower to admire the panorama of Mont Blanc at the closest point among those accessible to non-mountaineers. The whole Refuge is laid out inside caves dug artificially into the spire.

Outside, around the panoramic terraces, only snow and ice, despite it still being Summer. Below you can see the departure Station of the Cable Car that comes from Chamonix. We have a snack in the Restaurant then take the Cable Car again to return to the Refuge of Punta Helbronner where we cross the border line on foot to return to Italy,