Here without incident – transfers worked well and our pre-hike hotel delivered.
The Hotel Les Campanules across the river from the official Start / Finish in the Alpine village of Les Houches is ideal.
Take the €20 upgrade – Get this VIEW !
We’re off up there tomorrow 
Reception took one look at us three , boots , backpacks – pointed to the white linen , middle aged bourgeoisie, packed but mostly silent hotel restaurant and suggested we could order Pizza in while we played pool 
. Result .
Delivered by the amusingly named CHAMONEAT – with fruit flavoured Mountain Beer
Wonderful Air , superb sleep – greeted with this view of the Chamonix Valley –
Big Balcony – I’ll book Room 110 again 
We’re part of a group that has an experienced guide and we head down to meet them. But first it’s the classic TMB photo op.
We meet the group – more of them later- near the Cable Car Station. The Gondola is working fine – BUT of course we ignore it.
…. And after a bit of gradient , a few Alpine Meadows and some trainer slopes we end up in St Gervais Les Bains
It’s the very last day of August – the weathers superb.
And first photos of our group as we eat & plan the days routes with the TMB veteran Sebastian as our Mountain Guide
He explains :- The route begins with an ascent to the Voza passage (1653m) and then across the Bionnassay glacier in order to join up with the “knitting pass”, or Col de Tricot (2120m). As we descend into this high mountain pasture area, which is a mesh of fields, we find ourselves in a truly fabulous setting – face to face with the stunning domes of the Miage. Overnight Refuge with shower. BUT TODAY NO SHOWER TONIGHT mmmm – approx 16-18km, 1100m/3609ft ascent, 914m/2999ft descent
And the result of little rain and snow depletion has left the high refuges without enough water- No Showers tonight Kiddies! – Sebastian breaks the news in a mixture of Franglais and fluent Gitâne 
As we move out of the last of the tree line Thom meets a very special person for the first time – the amazing “call me KK” – Kakai Marr.
Some hours later we approach Refuge Miage at 1600 Metres
Where we “Check In” to out communal sleeping shelf and head to the nearby Glacier stream
Hair Wash 
MORE THAN refreshed we meet the group properly for a beer 
And a very welcome home made dinner ..
With a reasonable Brekky for tomorrow
Of the 4500 used today ……
Sundown is 9.15 ish with a glass of rough
Red wine as Dr Doolittle communicates with the local wildlife. 
First night in a Refuge….. we’ve done Alberqués in Spain – let’s see ……
Night 
Xxxxxx
always to see your blogs – albeit a little late! Love you xxx
what a wonderful log of a fabulous experience. Xxx