The Grand Balcon Sud hike is best done early in the season when the mountains are still covered in snow and when there are fewer tourists. I had skipped the Grand Balcon Sud and the Lac Blanc when I first visited Chamonix, because it is one of the most popular hikes in the region. Of course, it is popular for a reason. That's why, this time around, I decided to do it as a sort of acclimatization hike on my first hiking day. I started in Tré-le-Champ and from there I hiked to La Flégère via Lac Blanc and L'Index. I didn't want to stretch it on my first day so I didn't continue to Lac Cornu even though I could have managed. The route via Tré-le-Champ includes a section with ladders for some added fun.

Grand Balcon Sud view towards the North
It would be nice to visit the Lac Blanc early in the season when there's still a bit of ice
Lac Blanc
On a warm and sunny day in August the Lac Blanc is crowded but it's still a beautiful place
Grand Balcon Sud
Grand Balcon Sud
The views along the Grand Balcon Sud are indeed magnificent
The stretch between l'Index and Lac Blanc is probably the most interesting section
Another optical illusion: the Chamonix valley is actually between the foreground and the background of the picture

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