Tour du Mont Blanc Day 9: Ladders, Bridges, and a Return to Chamonix Valley

On Sunday, July 20th, our ninth and penultimate day on the Tour du Mont Blanc, I was finally feeling human again. After the food poisoning ordeal, we planned a shorter "rest day" to ease back into the rhythm of the trail as we made our way back to where it all began. [3 minute recap video]

A Climb to the Glacier

We started our day walking through the lovely town of Les Contamines. It was fun to see the blend of old and new, like a traditional French chalet with a robotic lawnmower trimming the grass. Soon enough, we were back in the woods, climbing with the sound of cowbells in the distance.

Our guidebook mentioned the Bionnassay Glacier Valley as a highlight, and our path took us up toward it. The trail grew more rugged and adventurous, leading us to a series of ladders bolted into the rock. Though I was feeling much better, I was still a bit tired and took a few breaks on the ascent.

The Himalayan Suspension Bridge

Just after the ladders came the most exciting feature of the day: a long, swinging suspension bridge high above a gorgeous, raging creek flowing from the Bionnassay Glacier valley. It was a thrilling crossing! Nina loved the bridge so much that she went back across twice more.

After more climbing, we popped out into an open valley with fantastic views, which served as a perfect spot for lunch. As we traversed the side of the hill, we navigated some tricky, exposed sections with cables for support.

A Gondola Descent and a Full Circle Moment

Before beginning our descent, we were treated to some absolutely fantastic views of the Aiguille du Midi and the Mont Blanc massif. I loved watching the gondola to the "needle" rising up out of the clouds. We happily hopped on the Bellevue gondola for a ride down into the town of Les Houches, saving our knees a long descent.

Back in the Chamonix valley, we stopped for a photo at the official TMB start/finish arch. While we didn't start or end our specific trip at this exact point, it was a fun almost full-circle moment. We celebrated me feeling lots better and being so close to the finish line at our hotel with a well-deserved beer, enjoying the views from our room.