early in the season, to tiny alpine rarities at high altitude as the season progresses.
Some easy ones to identify are:
Alpenrose A rhododendron bush present from the valley floor up to about 2500m. The pink alpenrose flowers carpet the slopes throughout July.
Alpenrose
Trumpet gentians These are the first gentians to appear and are bright blue and trumpet shaped.
Alpine gentians Tiny blue stars above about 2000m.
Edelweiss Usually found on limestone terrain so they are few and far between in the Chamonix valley but could well be spotted in the limestone foothills, and in people’s gardens.
Houseleek Commonly grows on rocks or house roofs. This succulent plant can grow in very little earth and is to be found low down in the valleys in early summer, where it grows quite tall (around 30cm is not unusual). A different variant is also found way up, on the highest slopes, around 2500–3000m and is tiny with striking deep pink flowers.
Martagon lily You might spot one of these exotic pink flowers during July, usually around 1200–1800m, often among vegetation. They are protected and very special.
Martagon Lily
The forest is also interesting. The main trees in the Chamonix forests are:
Larch Providing the best wood for building, this tree has enough resin in its trunk to not need any treatment when used for construction. All the old reddish-coloured wooden chalets in the valley are made from larch. It’s also used for ship’s masts as it grows tall and straight. This deciduous conifer loses its needles in winter, which means it turns a nice golden tinge in the autumn giving some colour to the slopes.
Larch
Spruce These are the classic Christmas trees, green all year round. Most Chamonix forest largely consists of larch and spruce.
Silver birch These light grey trees are common at valley level. They are often bent over from the winter snow but are generally supple enough to bear it.
Arolla pine Often seen at the upper edge of the treeline, these long needled pines have very heavy seeds, much favoured by birds, which tend to store them in rocky crevices where the seeds then set roots. Very slow to grow, these sturdy trees can reach several hundred years old.
Alder More of a bush than a tree, the alder is often found on forested hillsides, where there are gullies bare of any other trees. These are slopes that avalanche routinely in the winter and the alder is the only tree that likes such wet and mobile conditions.
There are also lots of wild animals and birds inhabiting the valley and slopes. A quiet approach is more likely to give you a sighting, but sometimes the animal will either be unaware of your presence or just not care. During your stay you’ll probably catch at least fleeting glimpses of alpine animals. Here’s the list of the main ones to watch out for.
Marmots Usually heard rather than seen at first as their high-pitched warning whistle gives away their presence. Keep your eyes open on rocky slopes or grassy meadows.
Marmot
Chamois Often spotted early morning or late evening in the higher forests. This goat–deer hybrid has small horns that hook backwards and long legs.
Ibex This mountain goat prefers rocky terrain and will be found high up on shaly rocky slopes. It’s a sturdy creature, often seen in groups, but if you’re lucky enough to come across an old male he’ll most likely be alone.
Ibex are seen quite often but not always this close
Stoats These energetic little creatures will sometimes be spotted scurrying around boulders. They look sweet but can be vicious to anyone outside of family. In winter they are white with a black tip to their tails and called ermine.
Deer Small deer (chevreuil) are quite commonly seen in the forests, usually from behind as they make a fast getaway. Larger deer are less commonly spotted although at night they often cross the roads and care should be taken when driving around the Chamonix valley after dark. Whether you see them or not, the deer are there in the forest and their droppings are often seen. You’re most likely to encounter them at dusk.
Foxes These are numerous in the Chamonix region but luckily haven’t yet adopted the habits of the town fox, which is seen as a pest. Foxes here live wild and so far don’t seem to be too interested in the McDustbin ready meal … long may it stay like this.
Vipers These snakes are commonly found on hot tracks in the afternoon – there’s a fair chance of coming across one slumbering on the trail if you’re at reasonably low altitude (below 1000m). Getting bitten hurts and you’ll need medical attention, so be careful where you put your feet and don’t wear sandals when hiking.
Butterflies On southern slopes expect to see lots of butterflies in the height of the summer. The large white Apollo is easy to spot as it flits around slowly from flower to flower.
Apollo butterfly
Golden eagle If you look up and see a big bird circling over Vallorcine or Chamonix, the chances are it’s a golden eagle. They have a huge wingspan – well over 2m – and so they don’t need to flap much. The immature adults have white marks on the underside of their wings, which makes for easier identification.
Alpine chough These black birds have a yellow beak and red feet and they will almost certainly join you at some point in the mountains for a picnic. They make a characteristic cheeping sound and are usually found at frequented passes and huts.
Bearded vulture There are a few of these around, since they have been reintroduced in the Aravis range, just down the valley. These wonderful birds have a wingspan of almost 3m and an orange underbelly. If you see one, count yourself lucky. And don’t panic – they only eat bones.
There are lots more flowers, trees and animals to look out for, of course – this is just a very small selection. Basic flora and fauna books are available in English from the bookstores in Chamonix. Armed with these you’ll add another dimension to your walks, climbs and bike rides.
How it all started
The first ascensionists of Mont Blanc
The history of Chamonix is first documented in 1091, when an order of monks settled on the right bank of the Arve and the
