mku4440

Hello, I am having a hard time deciphering if the lifts to see Mont Blanc from Chamonix will operate mid-June? Thank you.

PalenQ

http://www.chamonix.com/montenvers,81,en.html

The official site only gives times thru the end of April 2014 but all is up and running then and should be I would think later - I did not peruse the site thoroughly and there may be answers there. For lots of good info on trains like this in Chamonix check out www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com - gthey may also indicate periods of opening - but closures in Alpine areas are generally in May, a slow season for tourists - I'd be confident it will all be running in June.

You could also check e-mail the company or the Chamonix Tourist Office.

PalenQ

http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/f...s-mer-de-glace

another official site but in French and says about the same regard hours thru the end of April.

Be sure to also take the Aiguille de Midi cable cars across a glacier to Pte Heilbronner - the most fantastic cable car ride I have ever taken - a real thrill but not for the Nervous Nellies as the small gondolas stop over a sea of ice dangling whilst folks at either end get on or off - nice to have those cars start moving again!

AndiM

We took the gondola to the top of Chamonix (Aiguille de Midi) on July 4th 2011. All lifts in the area seemed to be operating. We bought a day-pass to ride all lifts including the cog-wheel train to the glacier. It's probably the most memorable July 4th ever! Unless there are weather closures, I am sure the lifts will operate. Here is a link to my blog from 2011 with pictures from Chamonix.
http://familyineurope.travellerspoint.com/11/

neckervd

The Mont Blanc is best seen from Brevent, Planpraz or Flegere. The gondolas will begin to run on June 14th.
Official Summer timetable 2014:
http://www.chamonet.com/item_files/c..._timetable.pdf

neckervd

Between 7th and 13th June, you may contemplate the Mont Blanc from Lac d'Emosson, a bit farther away. Buses from Finhaut railway station to Lac d'Emosson every hr from 9.18 until 17.18

madamtrashheap

If you want to see Mont Blanc, then the Aiguille du Midi (as AndiM suggested) cable car will be operating. It's a 10min walk from the centre of Chamonix to the lift base (or a bus), and they have just recently opened a rather spectacular viewing area on the summit...with a glass bottom! It opened in December, so it's on my list of this year's things to do. The glass box is on the summit, and then afterward, if you survive that, you take the cable car journey across to Pointe Helbronner mentioned by PalenQ - it will be a breeze after standing on that glass platform! (although that last bit up to the Aiguille will prepare you for the glass platform).

I've been in Chamonix-Mont Blanc at different times throughout the year (July, September, December) and lifts of one sort or another are usually operating unless the weather is truly hideous. The Summer season does see closures, but that's usually shops, restaurants, etc, and usually only for a few weeks at a time as there are still plenty of people visiting the region outside Winter.

If you don't want to go up the Aiguille, then as per neckervd, the lifts from either side of Chamonix will be operating for other viewpoints, including of the rather spectacular Mer de Glace if you're looking for mountains as well as "seas".

neckervd

It's easy:
If you want to see the North Western face of the Mont Blanc as a whole, go to Brevent, Flegere, etc. There you are just IN FRONT of the Mont Blanc chain.

If you want to see glaciers FROM ABOVE and a lot of peaks of other alpine chains like Bernese Alps, Gran Paradiso, Monte Rosa/Matterhorn, Bernina, Ortles-Cevedale (far away), go to Aiguille du Midi.

If you want to go to a glacier in a mountain Valley from where you cannot see many other peaks, go to Montenvers.

mku4440

Thank you all very much for the info. Looking forward to the visit!

PalenQ

the Aiguille to Pte Brenner gondolas would be my number one thing here - absolutely thrilling! Most dramatic cable way I have ever been on and yes you see glaciers and Mt Blanc in all its glory.

PalenQ

http://www.chamonix.net/english/leis...guille-du-midi

Interesting stuff about the Aiguille du Midi to Pte Heilbronner cable - called the highest aerial gondola crossing in the world - five miles of thrills.

neckervd

AFAIK the Aiguille du Midi - Pointe Hellbronner gondola will be closed for works at Pte Hellbronner

PalenQ

for how long will it be closed?

A pity!

neckervd

Probably until 2015.
It may run next summer, but without any stop at Pte Hellbronner. That means that the only place where you can board or leave the gondola will be Aiguille du Midi:
http://www.chamonix.com/telecabine-p...302977,fr.html
http://www.ledauphine.com/haute-savo...-cher-au-monde

PalenQ

Well not being able to stop at Pte Heilbronner tis a pity but that really is a minor part of the ride - most get off and just get back on the Chamonix (Aiguille du Midi gondola) - so if you have the change to take those asboutely thrilling gondolas across this sea of ice do it - I've ridden gondolas all over the world and none - not even the famous Murren to Schilthorn gondolas can touch this one for being TOTALLY AWESOME!