Activity Reviews in Chamonix

So, the peak season period is now over, the kids are back at school and the valley is a lot quieter now. The weather has still been quite changeable with a wee bit of rain from time to time and when the sun has been out its stayed fairly warm, but cooler than normal for this time of year.

Wow did any of you get to see any of the North Face Ultra Trail at the weekend? What an incredible event. I unfortunately missed the start of the race as I had to go over to Zermatt to work on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning but I made it back in time in the afternoon to catch the end of the race. I bought a French newspaper in Zermatt in the morning and read about the start of the race and all its build up. It takes me a while to read the newspaper in French but is really good practice, anyone looking to improve their comprehension I would suggest reading Aujourd'hui or Le Dauphine as they aren't as complicated as some of the broadsheets and events like the Ultra Trail are covered well in these as the tenses used are normally less complex. So the start in Chamonix at 7pm on Friday evening drew an estimated crowd of 10000 people. These included 2500 competitors, their entourage, local supporters and tourists. The competitors were kitted out in lightweight all weather gear, small back pack and walking poles, whilst the supporters were wearing considerably warmer gear. The temperature at the start was around 12 degrees but with the evening closing in and 7 peaks above 2000 metres on Le Tour du Mont Blanc to climb it certainly wasn't going to be a balmy summer evening (the Col de Grand Ferret at the bottom of the Aosta valley at 2537 metres was to be the highest point of the tour and at 7pm was allegedly only 2 degrees!).

I've not been biking this weekend in Chamonix as I was over checking out the Mondial VTT in Les Deux Alpes, however here's some interesting news from the Compagnie du Mont Blanc regarding what's happening on the trails in Chamonix, and what's currently open. And yes, there will definitely be a new track built from the top lift in Le Tour/Balme area...! Hoorah!

Some amazing weather has been given to us this week in Chamonix and it has pretty much returned to summer again! Which has been a joy, but not quite warm enough to brave swimming in the lakes and before the sun comes over the mountains the tempratures have been as low as 5 degrees! By mid afternoon though, the temperature has sat around the 25 degree mark - absoloutly brilliant for whatever activity you would come to Cham for this October.

With heavy snowfall arriving early in December things started off looking good for the long months ahead. However, a couple of weeks have now passed and there has been no further precipitation.

The pleasure of walking in the mountains is something that becomes closer to me as I get older. Maybe it's the time of year, when Chamonix town centre becomes unbearably busy; maybe it's the soothing escape that altitude offers from the more stifling heat lower down. Whatever it is, it's got me out and about this week enjoying sensational trail conditions in beautiful weather.

Yesterday saw the much-anticipated finals of the World Climbing Championships (Coupe du Monde d'Escalade) with competitors from (as the name suggests!) far & wide. There was a heavy European presence – sadly no-one representing GB – and a good handful from further afield such as USA, Canada, Hong Kong & Australia

Long hot days, very few rainy ones, music festivals, ultra marathons, base-jumping expos, street parties, BBQs, lazy days at the lake... au revoir summer 2013, you've been wonderful! Autumn is now in the air, the majority of the lifts have closed and the final sporting event of the season is upon us.

The last week has thrown up a mixed bag of weather in Chamonix. Apart from a couple of cloudy days at the beginning of last week, we have had standard late spring weather here with some warm sunny spells, interspersed with late afternoon showers – some of which have brought some impressive thunder and lightning displays. On Sunday night the forecasted rain seemed to have missed us, unfortunately it came eventually in the early hours of the morning just as I was walking the 20 minutes to home from a night in town. This was true Chamonix rain that came down in bucket loads, luckily I had a waterproof, a friend of mine didn't, instead he managed to fashion something out of shopping bags and cling film after a quick nightcap at another friends in town. Whilst the result wasn't 100% Gore-Tex in its waterproofing, it was nonetheless 100% hilarious and kept us entertained for the journey home.

It's been another beautiful week here in Chamonix – hot and busy, but with plenty opportunity to escape the crowds and enjoy your own quiet corner of the valley if you prefer. With temperatures sitting well up in the 20's and early 30's, heading up the lifts to the cooler air at around 2000m is the perfect way to start. Brevent, Flegere, Aiguille du Midi and the Montenvers train are the access points to two of the most popular walks in the valley – the Grand Balcons, Nord and Sud. Both of these walks take 2-3 hours at a fairly steady altitude, and are manageable by most if you're fairly fleet of foot and in sturdy footwear. They offer some of the most spectacular views of the valley – Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles from the south (Brevent) side and of Brevent and the Aiguilles Rouges from the north. Being so easily accessible from town they are also two of the busiest trails, especially at the weekend. So if you fancy enjoying the scenery without the queues and constant chatter, then you'd be better to head up the valley a bit to Grands Montets and Le Tour.

This weekend it was time to oil up the bikes again for a well overdue mountain biking trip up to the tracks at Les Houches before the lifts close for the summer season. This area always looks tempting from down in the valley as a place to take the bikes, as it has more gradual slopes back to the valley floor than some of the other areas around and also because the bulk of the tracks seem to be within the tree line

With the continuation of the sunny weather we have been enjoying in September we have been able to keep up with our hiking, and recently took the trail up to Chalet du Glacier on the left bank of the Glacier des Bossons. This is the more popular route up to view the glacier and also the route taken by the first Alpinists to reach the summit of Mt Blanc in 1786 (namely Dr Paccard and his guide Jacques Balmat, a statue of whom can be seen in Place Balmat in Chamonix town centre). People aiming for the Mt Blanc Summit still commonly use this route

We have had a great few days here in Chamonix, Fete de Musique was amazing and the weather changed just as the evening was coming to an end after the parties that went on through till sunrise! Its been as if the spirit of summer was waiting for the mass of people to descend upon the Rue des Moulin's for a massive carnival type party and dance the burning hot sun in to existence! Every day since the Fete its been very warm, and with all but the Grand Montets lift open, it has brought the masses to the wonderful valley of Chamonix.