MTBS Geography Dept. Tour of Northern Alps - July 2010

M56 J M6

2010-07-16T11:17:00.001+02:00

Just gone past the junction of the M56 with M6 estimated arrival at school now 1100.

M6 Toll Services departure

2010-07-16T10:07:00.001+02:00

Just left Norton Canes services on M6 toll road where we stopped for breakfast. Estimated arrival at school is about 1045 to 1100 depending on M6 traffic. More updates to follow.

Location:Walsall,United Kingdom

Nearing Warwick

2010-07-16T08:24:00.001+02:00

We are 12 miles from Warwick on M40 and plan to stop for 45 minutes on M6 toll services so hope to be back at school around 11 depending on M6 traffic.

Location:Banbury,United Kingdom

M40

2010-07-16T07:25:00.001+02:00

Just gone onto M40 from M25

Location:Gerrards Cross,United Kingdom

Passing M3 junction

2010-07-16T07:12:00.001+02:00

M25 junction with M3 heading round towards heathrow, time 0613

Location:United Kingdom

Maidstone drop off

2010-07-16T06:09:00.000+02:00

Just dropped a pupil off near Maidstone to meet up with his family.
Time 05:12

Left Folkestone

2010-07-16T05:45:00.000+02:00

Just left Folkestone after changing drivers. Remember that blog post times are GMT +1 hour

Location:Hythe,United Kingdom

Arriving at Dover

2010-07-16T04:21:00.000+02:00

Just arriving at Dover, on early ferry. Docking at 0330 UK time.

More posts on journey progress later.

Location:Canterbury,United Kingdom

Last day visit to Megeve

2010-07-15T14:00:00.000+02:00

Location:Megeve

Bastille day fireworks finale

2010-07-14T22:28:00.000+02:00

YouTube Video

Location:Avenue du Mont Paccard,Saint-Gervais-les-Bains,France

Bastille day fireworks

2010-07-14T22:23:00.000+02:00

YouTube Video

Location:Avenue du Mont Paccard,Saint-Gervais-les-Bains,France

Bossons glacier outwash area visit

2010-07-14T19:41:00.000+02:00

After getting really close to the snout of the glacier we then descended through the forest to visit the lower outwash area to get a view up to the glacier.

View of the carved out edges on the way down

Lunch in the forest

Mr Turner leaps into action!

In the 1960s an air India flight crashed into Mont Blanc and as predicated the wreckage appeared around 40 years later and at the outwash 2 pieces were found by a local man while we were there and he kindly gave us a piece of the aircraft for the geography department to keep.

View from the outwash area.

On the way down, back to the coach, then onto Chamonix to visit a photo and crystal exhibition.

The exhibition.

Bossons glacier visit

2010-07-14T19:18:00.000+02:00

Today we got up close to the Bossons glacier, via chair lift and then a hike to the two viewing areas.

At the top of the chair lift, followed by the hike

Cafe and first, lower viewing area

Snout of the glacier - end point for non geographers

Higher viewing area

Quick drink stop on the way down to visit the outwash area - see next entry

Our international mountain guide Kat discussing options with Mr Green and Mr Turner.

Wednesday 14th - Bossons Glacier video

2010-07-14T18:49:00.000+02:00

Today we got up close to the Bossons glacier and witnessed two avalanches of ice material, and were lucky to catch one on video.

YouTube Video

Visit to Annecy

2010-07-13T18:56:00.000+02:00

Up the hill near the church to draw a town plan.

Local spray painter, some boys purchased some of his really unusual and good artwork.

Firework display preparations

There were slides and a diving board for the boys to enjoy after their exploration of Annecy town.

Lunch in Annecy

2010-07-13T13:34:00.000+02:00

Waiting for boys to return after free time in Annecy. This posted from a cafe wifi, will update later tonight with all the main pictures from our visit to Annecy. Boys will be swimming in the lake later on.

Location:Rue Perrière,Annecy,France

Monday nights work

2010-07-12T20:00:00.000+02:00

After a long day doing town surveys to compare Chamonix to St. Gervais the boys delivered presentations in their groups and this was followed by questions, answers and debate. The classroom was ok but didn't compare to the open air mountain classrooms from the day before!

Monday 12th afternoon town study in St Gervais

2010-07-12T19:39:00.000+02:00

After Chamonix we travelled back to St Gervais to carry out a town study there to compare it to the larger Chamonix.

Effects of tourism, local ski lifts

After the town study we went back to the hotel, changed and then went to the local swimming pool for swimming and tennis for those that did not want to swim.

Just after we returned firm swimming thunder storms arrived for the second time since we arrived, it didn't stop some of the boys playing basketball and football.

Monday 12th July - Town Studies

2010-07-12T19:02:00.000+02:00

Chamonix Town Study in the morning, followed by lunch and hour and a half free time for souvenir shopping!

Chamonix in the afternoon of Sunday

2010-07-11T20:59:00.000+02:00

After lunch we travelled to Chamonix to visit La Mer du Glace and the ice caves

Chamonix with the Bossons glacier in the background

La Mer du Glace -Glacier with the bubble lift in the foreground that takes you down to the Ice caves - well after 350 steps as well !

The way down to the ice caves under the Gacier

Entrance to the caves

Inside - cooling off from a very hot day

Group photo under the ice clock

Just before this some boys had their picture taken with a big, furry creature called Alaska - a St Bernard

Another stuffy classroom with La Mer du Glace behind

Back down to Chamonix on the fennicular railway

Ready to head back to the hotel after a long, busy but fantastic day to have dinner and then watch the world cup final.

Weather was great all day after Saturday afternoons thunder and lightning that prevented us going up the tramway at St Gervais.

The Bossons glacier

2010-07-11T20:44:00.001+02:00

While at Aiguille de midi the boys learnt about Glaciation in the Alps and specifically the Bossons glacier

Sunday 11th July

2010-07-11T20:41:00.000+02:00

Morning visit to Aiguille de Midi

Some of the boys were quite adventurous - just kidding !

Lunchtime on the mountain

The classroom was a bit stuffy - worksheets being completed

We have arrived!

2010-07-10T20:47:00.001+02:00

After a long drive we have arrived and checking in has commenced.

Our hotel complete with outdoor and indoor basketball courts!

Views from our hotel

Time about 1215

Please note: we have had a phone call from one concerned parent noting that the blog was not updated after the 260km to go entry was made in the middle of the night. Often we cannot post if there is no suitable signal or where the signal is weak. Also we have things to do so it's not always possible to do it as often as we would like.

We have found a hotel next door that has WiFi but the updates may only happen in the evenings after a busy day of activities.

Nearly at Chamonix valley

2010-07-10T20:40:00.000+02:00

1145 Saturday

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

260km to go

2010-07-10T07:48:00.000+02:00

Early morning now, most people asleep. 260km to hotel

At sea

2010-07-09T23:24:00.000+02:00

We have left Dover now and on our way to France

Dover embark

2010-07-09T23:21:00.000+02:00

Location:Ramp C,Dover,United Kingdom

Dover ferry port

2010-07-09T22:16:00.000+02:00

Crossing at 1015 Uk time, blog time is French GMT+1 hour.

Location:Dover,United Kingdom

London

2010-07-09T21:00:00.000+02:00

Dartford crossing of River
Thames

Location:Thurrock,United Kingdom

Another comfort stop

2010-07-09T19:49:00.000+02:00

Just before M11

Location:Headlands,,United Kingdom

Stop at services

2010-07-09T17:08:00.000+02:00

30 mins stop at Norton Canes services on M6 toll road.

Location:Walsall,United Kingdom

Departure from school

2010-07-09T14:10:00.000+02:00

Location:Liverpool Rd,Southport,United Kingdom

Welcome to the Tour of Northern Alps Blog

2010-04-27T12:19:00.000+02:00

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