On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
BigJimSlade
Grand Balcon du Nord. That’s the name of the shelf that runs below the peaks by Mt. Blanc. It faces northish, hence the name.
So, after being thrilled up at Aiguille du Midi, we took the gondola halfway down and started a hike. The plan was to go to where a cog train for visitors to the Mer de Glace glacier could bring us back into Chamonix, but we missed the last one by about 30 minutes (the last train was before 5pm, I think). We had to hike the rest of the way, adding about 4.4 miles and 2800 feet of descent. We were hoping for a gentler first day, lol, but it was fine. We went straight to the best hamburger joint in town Poco Loco Burger, and brought that back to our hotel.
Getting off the gondola, we had a fine view across the valley of where we would hike the next day. Embiggen
And we start hiking. Embiggen
Looking back to Aiguille du Midi. Embiggen
Flowers and rock with lichen. Embiggen
Looking through some more flowers, and grass, down at Chamonix. Embiggen
Looking the opposite way, up slope to our right, we have wonderful craggy peaks, les aiguilles du Chamonix. Embiggen
I love forgetmenots. Embiggen
Les aiguilles from another view, black and white-icized. Embiggen
Some trail-side flowers (harebells, I think). Note the chain. This was a narrow spot, so there’s a chain to hold onto for support, but it wasn’t particularly necessary. When flowers are growing out of a rock face like this, it helps me out :-) Taking pictures of flowers at ankle-level is hard on my cranky knees. Embiggen
eclare
Those views are breathtaking.
Baud
Beautiful.
Kevin
Looks amazing. Those craggy peaks are other worldly.
Betty
Craggy mountains. And flowers too! Nice.
Yutsano
Alpine flowers always amaze me. Such wonderful yet fragile beauty clinging to otherwise almost barren rockfaces. I’m enjoying this series*!
*I’ve enjoyed them all don’t get me wrong. But I love me some mountains!
Kristine
What stunning views–that area of France is on my travel wish list.
WaterGirl
I love flowers that grow in cracks and crevices. Such a happy surprise.
StringOnAStick
Alpine flowers are such a testiment to life in the harshest conditions. Alpine is a high altitude cold desert, frozen for so long, briefly very wet and then dry from near constant winds; truly the toughest of plants and some of the most delicate and intricate flowers. I just love seeing them, thanks, and thanks for the gorgeous mountains too!
BigJimSlade
@Yutsano: @WaterGirl: I look for flowers in craggy trail spots all the time :-) Here’s one I took this past weekend in the Santa Monica Mountains. This is right in the middle of the trial, the piece of wood is basically making a stair up the hill (same for the larger rocks behind it).
WaterGirl
@BigJimSlade: Beautiful!
tybee
quite the scenery. more?
JanieM
Having an overly busy week but just wanted to drop in and say thanks for these — what spectacular vistas! And the flowers … I love forget-me-nots too. Such a pretty blue!