The Montenvers Train departs from its own station next to the main station in Chamonix. This old funicular climbs a steep track to a stunning vantage point above the Mer de Glace. From here, views of Les Grandes Jorasses and the Les Drus are exceptional. From the top station at Montenvers walk down to the glacier and into an ice grotto. There are many summer walking trails down to valley floor and traverses along the mountains to Plan de l'Aiguille. The width of the glacier varies from 700 - 1950 metres, the thickness of the glacier is between 200 - 400 metres. It is the biggest glacier in France and the third biggest in Europe. The glacier is continually on the move about 1cm per hour or 90 metres per year. The glacier could be seen from the valley in 1890 but has now re-treated inexorably. the immense moraines bordering the glacier are witness to this movement. This may be due to global warming/ Tensions deform the glacier and create crevasses which are a risk to persons walking or skiing on the glacier. The glacier looks small from the train station but some crevasses disappear into the centre of the glacier sosme tens of metres. Always formed in the area they disappear from the bottom of the glacier and are renewed from the top. This photo was taken in December 2015 when there was a lack of snow and so the glacier is looking dark and dirty for the time of year.
