but they were all happy - I think I said Bonjour about 1000 times on the way down

Ah, they might have been happy walking up - but after a stifling hot sleepless night and inedble dinner and breakfast I'm sure they'd be grim faced on the way down! Having said that probably most are just walking up for a drink before decending again the same day.

I'm a walker not a climber having spent too many years as a wife and mum. But my middle son introduced me to Chamonix in 1996 when I was 50 because I love the snow. Your photos have been wonderful to look through and the Albert 1er is one of my favourite walks. I envy you all being able to mountaineer in the serious stuff. Walking on glaciers is about as serious as it gets for me now.

I'm pretty much the same these day - in spite of the fact that Cham is hideously crowded, I love the place. Stuff to do at all levels.
I've enjoyed reading this recently: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mont-Blanc-Walks-Cicerone-Guides/dp/185284597X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306239832&sr=8-1