Day 1

the route...sort of

I spend a lot of time being curious and confounded by the world and the people in it. if i am not careful, i can get lost in pondering human behavior and all the influences and precursors to such behavior(s). so i knew joining a group of international hikers for a trek entitled "Mont Blanc Encompassed" would be...an indulgence of the mind, as well as the body.

The meeting point in Les Houches

9 personalities were before me in Les Houches; hints of personalities really, for how much does anyone know of anyone at "hello"? I was to learn more as hours and days went by, and i was to find the path (TMB) had its own complex personality. Of course we didn't exist in a bubble, but rather shared the TMB with many others, so it was a daily intermixing and mingling of attitudes, opinions, experiences, cultures, languages, expectations, emotions, ideas, needs, and histories.

How does it happen that 9 beings from 4-ish countries come together for 10 days of their lives?

The Jewel doesn't believe in coincidences, she did not see any aspect of this trek as a random happenstance. Miss Prim did not wait for the first day to find out about her trekking partners, she wrote to the company to find out who was coming and where they were from. From that information, Miss Prim formulated a hypothesis as to the make up of the group- "they must all be responsible working adults who have time and funds for a long holiday in August, and as they are joining a trek in France they must all be well traveled and speak multiple languages." The Chamois expected the others would be athletes particularly fond of mountaineering and intense physical pursuits, "why else would anyone do this trek?" she wondered. The Chamois does not believe in coincidence either, but she doesn't look for meaning in things. she would say, "life is what you make of it...and even then it can be awfully disappointing."

For whatever reason The 9 came together. While they weren't always physically sharing the same space, they were connected and certainly affecting each others space and experience in the world. so allow me to make formal introductions...

The Jewel- from Australia, she is a mother who is now out on her own exploring the world.
Miss Prim- from Denmark, she is a mother and grandmother, a former teacher and lover of languages.
The Missing Husband- from Denmark, he is married to Miss Prim. He is a father and grandfather, a former teacher and an injured athlete.
Oscar- from France, he is young but strong and stubborn and sweet.
The Guide- from France, he is a man of the Alps and a proud son of France.
Le Chamois- from Australia, she is a high level military official, and more mother to her siblings than sister.
The Lady- from France, she is a cancer survivor, a mother, and wife to The Gentleman.
The Gentleman- from France, he is retired from the fashion world and enjoying life with his wife.
Mr. Man- from Australia (and New Zealand), he is a father who has retired early to travel and settle in to his new home in the country.

view of Dome du Miage

Day 1- Les Houches to Refuge de Miage (at about 5000ft elevation).

the end of day 1

back in the country for 3 weeks and still my photos are in disarray. granted there are significantly less of them; i can no longer quantify the number as "obscene" rather it probably now qualifies as "an overabundance of photos." so without further explanation here are some from the first few days.

view from a window overlooking Lyon.

view from a train- on my way to Chamonix.

walking through Chamonix

Chamonix, Mont Blanc is off to the left.

Guides are held in high esteem in the Alps.

a break along the rushing mountain waters.

another view of the water, the town and the snow.