The TMB - Day 4 - June 9th - Rifugio Elisabetta to Courmayeur

From the tranquillity of the wild upper valley down to civilisation; a delectable ramble.

The weather and scenery were quite superb as I hiked the fourth day. The first part was from Elisabetta at 2195 m to Lac de Combal about 5 km down the valley. This seems to be the road-head for anyone wanting to travel up the Val Veni by car, and there is a car-park at the bridge. The lake was created by a natural dam of moraine thrown-up by the Glacier du Miage.
These views are from this first part of the walk. Rifugio Elisabetta can be seen in the first picture, and Lac de Combal with the lateral moraine dam can be seen in the second.

Reminder : You can click the picture to see a larger size, then
use the back button to continue reading

The view looking over Lac de Combal towards Rifugio Elisabetta

From a point near the road-head and lake, I followed the TMB route as it climbed the southern side of Val Veni. This uphill track was directly opposite the Glacier du Miage, and gave fantastic views across the valley of  Italy's longest (about 10 km) and Europe's largest debris-covered glacier. The trail "topped-out" at about 2420 metres.
There was lots of wildlife/bird interest ... I found these Redpolls where the path began to rise through birches

Further on the trail drew parallel with Mont Blanc's south face. In the foreground of this photo lie the skeletal remains of a ruined building.

The views of Mont Blanc were "head-turning" all the way along the Val Veni as I dropped-down to the Col Chécrouit at 1956 metres.

Lunch-stop was at this Shepherd's hut where I saw a Golden Eagle soaring above.

This photo was taken as I crossed a stream, looking across the valley along the length of the Glacier du Miage.

Two more Mont Blanc views - the first one reflected in the waters of a small pool, and the second one over the forested edge of Val Veni.

Finally I reached the Col and took a left turn for the variente route past Rifugio Monte Bianco

I continued down into the valley to pitch my tent at "Camping Monte Bianco La Sorgente" beside the river.