55 photographs from Wednesday 10 June, in the order they were taken. The mountains — the register's one change of altitude. Read Part Four — Chamonix.
Wednesday 10 June · from 7.51am
Morning in Chamonix
7.51am · Morning over the rooftops
7.51am · First light on the peaks
8.59am · Out early
9.08am · The walk to the lift
9.30am · The queue for the téléphérique
9.37am · In the cabin, climbing
▶ 9.09amThe Arve again, next morning, under a blue sky.
▶ 9.36amGoing up — the Aiguille du Midi cable car, Chamonix shrinking below.
9.42am · Cables into the cloud
9.43am · The range, named peak by peak
9.45am · The valley a mile below
▶ 9.46amThrough the cloud — the valley from the second cable car.
9.48am · Snow above the clouds
9.52am · Near the top, climbers on the arête behind
10.00am · Over the cloud sea
▶ 9.57amClimbers on the arête below the summit station, roped in a line.
▶ 10.02amThe rope teams heading out along the ridge — twenty-five seconds of it.
▶ 10.02amThe two of us at 3,842 metres, the Grandes Jorasses behind.
10.03am · 3,842 metres, says the wall
10.04am · A chough, working the terrace
10.04am · The summit station
10.16am · A hand on June snow
10.17am · A snowball in June
10.21am · The Aiguille du Midi
10.22am · Cloud pouring over the ridge
10.23am · A terrace above the clouds
10.23am · Alone at the rail
▶ 10.24amThe terrace of the Aiguille du Midi — Mont Blanc coming and going in the cloud.
▶ 10.27amUnder the summit tower — a selfie, and the wind.
▶ 10.43amBack down the first cable — the valley opening out again.
10.54am · Down the granite trail
11.02am · Held a moment longer
11.02am · A kiss at altitude
11.04am · A rock with a view
11.14am · Two by the lake
11.14am · The lake, snowmelt green
11.14am · The mountain lake
11.41am · Crossing the last snow
11.46am · Climbers coiling ropes
▶ 11.33amBy the lake at Plan de l’Aiguille — the snow still lying in June.
11.48am · The marmot, unbothered
11.54am · Beers at the buvette
▶ 12.05pmThe cabin crossing overhead on its way up — seven seconds.
Wednesday 10 June · from 12.48pm
Midday
12.48pm · Behind the machine
12.56pm · Shouka
12.59pm · The sports-shop row
1.40pm · A galette for lunch
1.59pm · Pâte à crêpes, studied
2.08pm · Le mille-feuilles, considered
2.31pm · The square after lunch
Wednesday 10 June · from 3.17pm
Afternoon
Wednesday 10 June · from 8.18pm
Evening
8.18pm · Back at the hotel
8.27pm · Table secured
9.16pm · The grill box, loaded
▶ 8.23pmThe Arve at 8.23pm, still in a hurry.
9.16pm · The meat platter
9.16pm · Cheese for the iron
9.16pm · Raclette, underway
10.09pm · The terrace singer
10.11pm · Night in the square
10.11pm · Blue hour on the snow
▶ 10.28pmThe hearth again — the last night in Chamonix.
10.32pm · Vive la vie
10.39pm · Rossignol, one hundred years
10.40pm · Skis on the roof, 1960-something
