We’ve been here before, but it’s been awhile, and is always impressive. A bucket-list thing to do at least once. And we have sunshine. We are only a five-minute walk from the cable car entrance and it goes up from around 3,000 feet to 12,000 feet to the summit of the Midi in about 20 minutes.

The cable car began operation in 1955 and the first section, which contains three pylons, stretches up to 7,000 feet from Chamonix to Plan l’Aiguille. The pylons are notable because on the way down there’s an obvious drop in the car as you pass each one.

We enter the cable car with about 70 of our new friends.

We disembark from that car and enter another to travel up the second section which has no support pillars and reaches the upper summit, a total of more than 12,000 feet.

As we near the top the ascent is nearly vertical.

Near the top we view the ragged peaks and see a few climbers along one ridge.

At the top we leave the cable car to stand on the first viewing platform.

Then we take a small elevator inside the rock walls another 135 feet or so to the top of the station.

Looking down at the first viewing platform.

This is a photo of Mont-Maidit and Mont Blac.

This is us today in front of Mont-Maudit with Mont Blanc behind it and in the clouds. And it’s cold and windy.

Another look down with climbers.

And another photo from the top. Just can’t capture the awesomeness of the place with these photos.

At this point, I’m dizzy and feeling the altitude and go back inside the station and take the elevator back to the first platform. I wander along a passageway into a small gallery with a film about the Mont Blanc Massif and find a bench to sit on.In the meantime the others decide to join the line waiting to step “into the void.” After about 25 minutes they get to do just that. Note the special slippers they had to wear.

Looking down.

Chamonix below us.

After the “void” experience, Jim and Emily explore further and go through a snow tunnel called the “tube.”

They come out of the tunnel and are two tiny figures on the platform. Look for the red jacket and waving arm.

Ross and I check out the gift shop and by now he is feeling the altitude too. We wander up and down stairs to get to the gondola and start down.

On the way down we take a photo of the impressive Glacier des Bossons. Coming off Mont Blanc it lies close to Aiguille du Midi and descends toward Chamonix. It has the largest altitude drop of all European glaciers and previously extended much further into the valley.

We reach the base and treat ourselves to some electrolytes and a chocolate chip cookie.

Jim and Emily did some exploring including finding a tarn at Plan l’Aiguille before descending to the bottom. We all eventually get back to the hotel after an exciting day.

Dinner is at a VBT- recommended restaurant, the Caphorn. This was so good we thought about going back again. And another couple on our tour did eat there twice.

The interior is interesting with multiple levels and a seafaring theme.

I have chicken and everyone was pleased with their dinner.

Walking back we check out the river and this bridge.

Then we see the Bossons Glacier and it looks so close. It’s not quite 9 pm.

Final stop for the day, gelato. Later we were told how to find a good gelato shop. I don’t remember everything, but one indicator was the shop will not carry an extensive choice of flavors, Second, the colors of the gelato will not be intense. Today was an intense day. Will see what tomorrow holds.