Mont Blanc lift, worth it?

I don’t remember ever having to queue for the railway, but we always got there nice and early. I suspect that after the hot summer the Mer de Glace might not be looking at its best at the moment, probably more like a load of gravel. I’d still go for the Brevent if only for the thrill of the cable car ride and the altitude and the amazing view.

I think we’re feeling your plan Globaliti.

Weeksy Inwould check the Brevant and TMB timetables. If you are planning to drop stuff off at the hotel etc then by the time you get to either it will be 2:30 earliest. IMO too late to go up Tramway, maybe ok for Brevant. Worth looking at weather too as Brevant is for the view.

After the drive and the stinky MB tunnel some fresh air will be good. I’ll try and think of a bar / restaurant you can drive to with a nice view. Maybe “just” a swim – as above its quite a view amd amazing to see the glacier which looks like it’s falling into the town.

If you don’t mind the cost maybe Brevant Thur afternoon and TMB Friday earlyish. Given @globalti keeps mentioning the view I’ll post the pic again 😉

Walking out of the main building might be a non starter without crampons and a harness, at least in winter.

Still quite a bit to see from the buildings, plus you can use the worlds highest land toilet (at least that’s what I told the kids) or step out in this malarky;

I’ve been up with a ski pass a few times, considering the ski pass isn’t much more expensive per day it includes loads (Italian ski pass, discounted tunnel pass, mountain train pass, plus a go on the new alpine roller coaster) which makes the £60pp seem a bit much to me. I’d probably do the railyway and have a meal in Cham for the money.

Brevent is 5.30pm last lift up, 6pm last down and is a much nicer £80 all in than the £170 for the other.

If all that fails and you’ve been delayed, motor up the valley to Le Tour and have a ride on one of the chairlifts, much cheaper than a cable car.

Typically the Alps have nice weather in the morning and thunderstorms mid to late afternoon then it clears later.

Montenvers railway is pleasant enough, we used it as a jump off point for a route. View from montenvers hotel up mer de glace is as globalti says, rubble strewn dry glacier, not very pretty. Scope and scale of it all is something tho, pretty sure you can see grand jorasses from there as well.

Yeah – it can work out much cheaper in winter if you buy a ‘6 day Mont Blamc Unlimited’ as this includes Montenvers and the Midi.

pretty sure you can see grand jorasses from there as well.

Yes you can but a better view of the Grandes Jorasses and surrounding area can be had from the ‘viewing area’ a short walk above the Montenvers Hotel.

Good view of Les Drus from the hotel though – you can clearly see where the huge slab fell away a few years ago.

Anyone doubting climate change should take the short lift and then the steps down towards the ‘nose’ of the Mer de Glace and take note of each decade’s glacier levels marked on the descent … quite scary really – a few more years and it will just be a huge ‘dust bowl’. 🙁

If time is short I’d pick Brevent over the Montenvers railway. I might even pick it over the Aiguille du Midi anyway regardless of cost. No messing around with queues and the view is better imo even if it isn’t as high.

As an alternative go up the Grand Montets. Still great views, far better than going up the railway to the foot of the Mer de Glace and you might get to see some fools from the Chamonix Delta Club throwing themselves off.

plus you can use the worlds highest land toilet (at least that’s what I told the kids)

Highest throne in Western Europe is probably in the margherita Hutte on the summit of Signalkuppe, incredible view whilst you’re sat on the pot. It was part of my first alpine climbing trip in 1995, I learnt about acclimatisation the hard way in there, worst night of my life.

Weeksy, in case you don’t get up and out of the town on Thursday the recommendation I have for late sun in the town is Bar Chamonix on Place l’Eglise which is directly oppostie the Tourist Office.. (Note the town is in a deep valley surrounded by big mountains and so loses the sun early). We usually stay on this square (Swiss Hotel) which has a great rooftop pool / terrace if you can get up there as a non-resident. The high street is worth a stroll up and down. Be careful abour picking a place for drinks / dinner near the river as it gets cold quickly (the water is coooold)

Jambalaya,

Cave De Mazenay is the wine place. Closed early lunchtime, but opens about 2pm again.

http://www.cave-de-mazenay.com/

Back to the original question: yes, every penny. At least it was during that blisteringly hot summer of 5(?) years ago. I stood at the top in just a t-shirt and shorts and rejoiced in feeling cold for the first time in 3 weeks.

Me and Mrs Futon went up to the Glacier 3000 last week, great views!

futon river crossing – Member

Me and Mrs Futon went up to the Glacier 3000 last week, great views!

Is this the mountaineering equivalent of going to Center Parcs?

Weeksy thanks and noted.

Mrs Weeksy spent £80 in there, the white table wine is apparently exceptional and £2.50 a bottle.

We walked up to the top but if you don’t feel up to that then the cable car up gets you the spectacle and most of the way up without the effort or risk for an expensive but good value ticket (when compared with say the Jungfrau raliway).

plus you can use the worlds highest land toilet (at least that’s what I told the kids)

Ha, reminds me of when a bunch of us went up to the little cafe hut that overlooks the Boisson Glacier at Les Houch, near Cham. There was a choice of going to du Midi, which I rather wish I’d done, now, but whatever.
Anyway, the loo is, or was, just a little square box with the crescent cut in the door perched over a drop.
One of the girls in the group went in, came out several minutes later, rather quiet, and sat down.
Looked at everyone else, said ” I couldn’t go”, and left it at that.
It was the sphincter-clenching view through the holes in the floor did it, I understand… 😀