Valley Blanche in the Dark

Not realy in the dark but at dusk and by moonlight.

Caught the last lift of the day and hung out at the top of the Aiguille du Midi for a while watching the sun slowly sink and the lifties round up all the errant tourists......Walked down the now deserted arete (took me an hour standing in line this morning!) dodged the new holes in the ground and icy steps...Clicked intour gear and glided silently down the tourist route...the sky and the mountains turned some lovely colours....the little hike at the end was a bit icy, followed by an interesting run down the road in the woods by torchlight.

Just letting the sun go down

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic18200.jpg

Sun going down and it begins to change

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic18205.jpg

And the moon rising up

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic18199.jpg

Down the valley its all colours

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic18197.jpg

Franciska catching that last light of the day

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic18201.jpg

All by the light of the moon

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic18198.jpg

I somehow never regret opening your posts, Idris.
Thanks

That last image is *amazing*. Have you got it in sooper dooper high res for background purposes? If so could you shoot me an email (egladwyn @at@at@ mac .dot.dot. com). Amazing pics :) Planning to do the Vallé Blanche later this month - but n00b way down in full daylight, none of this extremo mountain man nonsense ;)

edg

Expeditions like these are why I always make sure to read your trip reports. I never know if I'm going to get some death-defying chute that required ropes to get into and out of, or maybe a full-on death march, or something unique like this. Thanks for keeping us updated :)

^