Tour de Mont Blanc

6/28 Stage 2: Chamonix – La Flegere – Index – Col de la Gliere – Le Brevent – Refuge de Bellachat – Les Houches

6/28 After a quick stop at the bakery for a croissant and coffee we caught the bus to La Praz and took the 9:00a tram to La Flegere (1875m – 6152ft), and then the chairlift back up to Index la Gliere. Here we took the trail, first southwest down from the lift around the foot of the east ridge of the Aiguille de la Gliere and then westerly toward the Col de la Gliere. The last part of the hike was a scramble across a mild cliff face, protected by steel rails and cables, and then on to the Col de la Gliere (2461m – 8074ft). After a short rest we followed the trail on a scenic traverse around the west side of the Aiguille Pourrie to the Col du Cornu (2414m – 7920ft). We then descended through rock gardens, with great views across to the Mont Blanc massive, until we eventually arrived at Le Vioz (2050m – 6726ft), just above the Planpraz tram terminal. We stopped here for a picnic and continued on the trail up to the Col du Brevent (2368m -7769ft) and on up to Le Brevent Tram Station (2524m – 8281ft).