On our day off we decided to do the tourist thing and go up to the Punta Helbronner (3466m) station at the top of the cable car - as high as you can go from the Italian side

Halfway up stands the Pavillon du Mt Frety

After spending a short time at the halfway point the car takes us to the top, revolving as it goes to give us all a decent view

Near the top is this Rifugio unfortunately at that point surrounded by light cloud restricting the distant views

The cloud came and went so you had to be quick with the photos when there was a clearing. The little dots are people walking about on the snow - the two on the extreme left could have been Mike F and John who both went walking on the snow in that direction

Not sure what the bird was, perhaps a Chough which were quite plentiful in the mountains

You just have to trust the Italian building engineers!

If you want to walk on the snow follow the path. The cables disappearing into the distance eventually reach Chamonix on the french side

The view from Helbronner towards the Aiguille du Midi above Chamonix

The Mont Blanc tunnel portal can be seen just below the centre of the picture as it disappears into the montain

The top of the cable car at Helbronner

On the way down the Mont Blanc tunnel portal at Courmayeur is much more obvious

Time for lunch at the Rifugio Torino