Day 1 Evening dinner

Well we are more prepared that what we thought with our kit purchases as Simon and myself did not need to go to the hire shop, which is good to know. So we were first down for dinner and orderd our meals first, joined by the others half hour later. Then our meals arrived 15 minutes after everyone elses! We then decided to get some water for the dehydration packs, well I did for me, Simon is going with straightforward tap water. I am not sure I can risk my stomach on tap water so we leave dinner in search of a supermarket but to no avail, all shut, so I have no choice but to pay bar price back at the hotel, I cannot believe that I have just bloody paid 12 QUID for 2 litres of water! Si, I think we are in the wrong business! We also get accosted by the armand and get frog marched back into the restaurant we forgot to pay for our drinks! Not a good start!

We are now back in our room. Going to check the kit for one last time, phone Rachel and the boys and then try and get some sleep before a 7 am start, We have an 8 am pick up to next village, followed by a short cable car journey then a 3-4 hour trek in the morning higher up to help us acclimatise. We are currently at 1000m. Then in the afternoon we will be learning mountaineering basics i.e the use of crampons, ice axe and rope skills! Definitely need to try and have a good night sleep, but somehow I don't think I will!

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Day 1 Kit Check

We have just completed our kit check and met our guide Phillipe, who has miraculously reduced my kit weight by a third which I am VERY happy about as my back is starting to have twinges and feels sore! I am praying this is not the start of something more serious.

There are 5 in our group in total, 6 including our guide Phillipe. A mother and son, Elizabeth and (another)Phillipe from Norway and Samina from croydon and of course me and Simon. Quite a mixed group and all seem very nice and hopefully we'll all get on well. Phillipe is training to be a mountain guide back home in Oslo. Dinner next.

Day 1 Room with a view

Room with a view and what a view, I feel a strange mix of excitement and nerves, but predominately nerves.I can't help thinking would the altitude or our fitness cause us any problems!?

Day 1 Packing yet again

We have arrived at our accommodation for tonight, its basic and suits it function and we are now unpacking our flight bags only to repack our rucksacks having 2 hours to get this right. Had a lovely surprise hidden in my clothes, 3 cards from Rachel and the boys. The boys had drawn mountains and me on top! all wishing me luck and asking me to be safe. I must admit this tugged at my heart strings and brought a tear and smile to my face. It's nice to know the ones you love are right behind you. Ethan I wish you were here too, love to you all

Day 1 Journey from airport

We had to wait for a few other planes to land with fellow climbers on so we decided to grab a drink. Been in the mountain boots now for a while and my feet are starting to ache. Wish I was wearing shorts too as red hot in geneva. need to make the most of this heat before we head up the mountain.

It took around an hour an half to get to the hotel, unfortunately you won't be able to appreciate the attached pictures. My first impressions of seeing her were mesmorising. Were we really going to climb her? She just towers above everything else and looked so majestic. I feel drawn towards her and now cannot wait to take my first steps on her slopes. Unfortuantely my awe of Mont Blanc was short lived with Michael Schumacher at the wheel of the mini bus, it is so hard to hold both cameras still and take photos but thankfully I think I succeed and we arrive in one piece.

first delay

Hopefully, our only delay. The Captain has just announced delayed departure, only 15 minutes, hopefully that won't affect our connection to Chamonix.

Simon as usual is taking it all in his stride, although the boots are still giving him problems. Still after about half an hour of running repairs to these in the lounge he thinks he is ready, with what I think is trial alterations to boots no 10!

Departure Day

Saturday 31st July 2010
Didn't sleep much last night, I must have packed my ski bag at least 20 times in mysleep. woke at 4am could not remember if I had packed my headtorch. Did the boys say that they had taken it last night and didn't give it me back? Can't remember! So finally muster myself to get out of bed at 5.15am to get ready to leave. First thing to do is completely unpack my bag to find headtorch, only to find I had zipped it in the top pocket! It only takes 10mins to repack. Rachel gets up with me to make sure I don't forget anything. I don't think I have, well it's too late now. I go in to kiss the boys goodbye no movement from Kian but Ethan jumps straight up I don't think he slept much either. Kian eventually gets up and we all have a big hug and say our farewells for a week. They have promised me they will be good for Rachel, but somehow think she will have her hands full. Iv'e promised to stay safe and make sensible decisions. Simon arrives, we run through last minute packing queries and set off - a miserable journey as weather awful, but now relaxing in the British Airway's Club lounge, thanks for arranging this Bekki, it makes travelling so much easier hope she can get us an upgrade coming home!

Next stop Geneva