Eileen and Daniel from Englewood, NJ, showed up in Chamonix to fit in a climb with Kathy, during a longer European tour. They had only a couple of days to spend, but the weather gods were with them, as you can see.

Daniel and Eileen on the approach to the Cosmiques hut.

The following morning we were up before dawn to make an attempt on Mont Blanc. Some severe symptoms looking a lot like AMS, along with minor technology failure (only one of three headlamps was working by dawn!) led us to re-adjust our objectives to Mont Blanc du Tacul, seen here on the left.

It was nice to be up high as the sun rose in a beautifully colored sunrise, just getting started here.

Mont Blanc catches the first rays.

The summit pyramid on Mont Blanc du Tacul.

Another party takes a brief break and prepares for the steeper ground to the summit.

I couldn't resist the subtle colors of this bergschrund catching the low light.

Another party approaches the summit as we head down. Crowded condtions on top precluded a good summit photo!

Looking east to the Grandes Jorasses (foreground, below and right of sun), the Matterhorn (pointy thing in the far distance, left of the Grandes Jorasses), Grand Combin (big honker just below the sun in middle distance), and Weisshorn (right leaning pyramid below and left of sun in far distance).

Descending to the Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix visible in the valley bottom.

Daniel and Eileen on descent. Here's hoping they'll be back for another sampler of the Alps!