Nov 6, 20192 min read

Chamonix

A scenic two hour drive outside of Annecy; avoiding les péages by winding through Le Col des Aravis, or a one hour straight-shot on the toll roads will lead you into the Chamonix valley. On a clear day, as you glide under the Viaduc-Sainte-Marie, you'll see the Mont Blanc massif towering before you. It's a spectacular sight; from the jagged Aiguilles to it's ever snow-covered summit at 4810 meters.

There are days the clouds are so thick, the fog so heavy, you don't see it at all. Of course, even out of sight, it's still there in front of you; just as real, just as massive, just as beautiful.

At night, if you continue opposite the city lights up Le Col des Montets, you'll find the stars pulled into focus. Stars, of course, that were always there, just out of sight. And profound quietness. Perhaps the shuffling of bouqetins (the alpine ibex), not much else.

The world is so much more than what we see at any given moment. Love, dreams, purpose, God, all move in and out of sight. When we can't see these things, it's easy to succumb to the idea that they are gone, or that they were never really there. But our ability to see something does not determine its existence. And often when we lose sight of something, we have the opportunity to discover something else; a deeper compassion, a new direction, strength...

There are things worth seeing in the storms.

There are things worth seeing in the dark of night.

This is something I've learned in the mountains.

I'll be sharing a handful of my own Chamonix anecdotes, as well as, several informative posts on hikes, restaurants, refuges & night life.