In the summer of 2014, my girlfriend and I spent a month traveling around France but before we met up I had 2 weeks to myself in the last half of August to explore the western Alps of France and Italy. I started off in Chamonix, France near Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, and did a day hike to Lac Blanc before traveling to Courmayeur on the Italian side to do a few more day hikes. Next I went to Cogne in Gran Paradiso National Park to begin a 5 day backpacking trip across the park before hiking over a pass into France and then continuing another backpacking trip through Vanoise National Park.
Gran Paradiso is a spectacular park with beautiful mountains, glaciers and lots of ibex and chamois.
The Italian side of Mont Blanc
Looking towards Gran Paradiso National Park, from a ridge above Courmayeur
The Italian side of Mont Blanc
Beautiful green ridges above Courmayeur
Mountains near Courmayeur
The Italian side of Mont Blanc
View from Cogne
Looking towards Alpe Money
The precipitous trail to Alpe Money
Alpe Money and Gran Paradiso
Alpe Money and Gran Paradiso
Alpe Money and Gran Paradiso
A tarn near the first hut
The donkey that brings food to the hut
Sunset from the hut
Chamois
Ibex
Lunch…Alps style
Looking towards some peaks of the Alps
Becca Della Traversiere
Becca Della Traversiere
Becca Della Traversiere
Becca Della Traversiere
This donkey knows how to work the tourists
Curious ibex
