Chamonix Activity Report: 13th August 2009
So another amazing few days in Chamonix, with high temperatures and lots going on. BBQs are being cooked up everywhere from the many free-to-use BBQs dotted in and around Chamonix near parks, climbing walls and lakes, and anyone with a terrace, or bit of grass has been preparing a great meal outside.
The Office bar in Argentiere is holding a massive BBQ on their terrace this Friday at a very reasonable price, so if you want a BBQ without the fuss of cooking or washing up then head on down there.
This weekend will also see the Fete de Guides spectacular show on the rock at Les Gaillands were there will be stunts, music, lights and lots of good times, with some great after parties to follow, including the Hotel Vert just next to the climbing wall.
The past few days I have been taking it pretty easy and staying out of the midday heat and going on some early morning or late evening bike rides and climbs. It is so much cooler and there is hardly anyone around, making whatever you do that much more peaceful and enjoyable and you get to watch sunset and sunrise.
On Wednesday I went for a bike ride on the road to Vaudagne, which is just past Les Houches and up the hill a little. It's fairly straight forward to get there, simply stay on the road following the road signs to Les Houches, then to Vaudagne, where it becomes much quieter as you climb up the hill.
Leaving before 8am to go for an uphill bike ride is a great idea, the temperature is much more bearable than the height of the day and the sights you will see at this time are amazing. Once up at Vaudagne it's a very easy ride downhill toward Servoz, where you can choose to get the train back or climb back up the hill. I chose to get the train back as the heat of the day was already setting in. I returned to Chamonix and decided to sit by the river and relax for the rest of the day, before heading down to Le Fayet for a nice cool evening climb.
We went for our climb at around 7pm after the heat had dissipated and set up our equipment next to the wall in the Parc Thermal. With no one else around, we had the choice of all the routes down there. Most of them were easy, so we had a go at seeing how fast we could complete the climbs in.
To get to Le Fayet wall, you can catch the train and head to the Parc Thermal opposite the train station, however if you come down and stay till the hour that we did, you will need a car to get back home. It's also fairly straight forward to follow the signs to get here. We climbed watching the sunset behind the mountains in the distance, and carried on till it became too dark to see. After our day of cooler activities we headed back up the hill just in time for 2 for1 cocktails at Chambre Neuf.
So a few very hot days but there is always the possibility of being more comfortable in temperatures like these and with so much happening this weekend who needs to do too much anyway? Come over and relax by the lakes, go for a BBQ and watch a great show at la Fete Des Guides followed by some great after parties, so don't delay book your flight today!
Don't forget to keep an eye on our What's On Calendar for a full list of events taking place over the summer months.
