Montenvers

A rack railroad (lower station opposite the railroad station; May-Oct. only; journey time 20min.) runs up to the summit of Montenvers (1,913 m/6,277ft; restaurant with extensive views). From this mountain there is a magnificent view of the Mer de Glace ("Sea of Ice"), a river of ice 7km/4-1/2mi long and 1-2km/-3/4-1-0.5mi wide formed by three converging glaciers. Immediately opposite is the overhanging west wall of the Aiguille du Dru (a difficult rock climb); beyond it, to the left, is the Aiguille Æ Bochard; to the right the Aiguille du Moine, farther back the Grandes Jorasses, and far right the Aiguille des Grands Charmoz. From the upper station of the rack railroad there is a cableway (2min.) down to a 100 m/330ft long tunnel driven