Les Dames Anglaises, or ‘The English ladies’, Mont Blanc

Written By Jeroen Roosen

Q3, 2021

We have just visited the botanical garden of the Skyway-Mont-Blanc cable car and needed urgently a good Italian cappuccino. Hardly any wind perceivable, the temperature was not bad, some sun from the valley however the mountains were still in the clouds, invisible. Sitting in a relaxing chair, we evaluated the climb of yesterday. We have climbed and hiked two days in the clouds, hardly seen anything of the impressive mountain scenery. It was cold and cloudy.
The forecast for today was not much better, luckily we had to move on, for an appointment in the valley. But first, it was time for a short brake to enjoy some sun near the cable car as well as a good cup of Italian-made cappuccino.
We where here also for a reason. We hoped to pick up a glimpse of Les Dames Anglaises, however the gray cloudy deck wasn’t that promising. I had set up the camera gear, right behind us, hoping for the best. I didn’t check on google, but some define hope as “delayed disappointment”. Just after we sat in a relaxing chair, slowly but surely, some clouds started to break. That’s when the magic happened. Apparently, hope can also be defined as “a feeling of trust or desire for something particular to happen”.

All of the sudden, we got to see Les Dames Anglaises. It is strikingly fascinating to see these five-bomb proof granite rock pillars pop out of the clouds so unexpectedly. There they stand, in front of us, in all their glory. I ran to my camera, sturdy tripod, cable release, the heavy 300mm F2.8 lens and even didn’t think a second more about my cappuccino. It was time to capture this magic moment. Before I knew, the moment was gone. It lasted three to five minutes. Les Dames Anglaises, or translated the English Ladies, were swallowed by the thick clouds again, and disappeared. They were out of sight, like they are not there anymore. Like nothing happened. Nature offered us these magical minutes. Just like so, bizar.
Meanwhile, the cappuccino transformed into a frappuccino. All this, thanks to mother nature.

The cappuccino we never finished. In the background you’ll see the 300mm on the tripod with cable release stand by.

The cappuccino we never finished. In the background you’ll see the 300mm on the tripod with cable release stand by (Photo Fabienne Roosen)

These pillars, les Dames Anglaises, are part of a long-exposed ridge, the Peutery Integrale, leading to the summit of Mont Blanc, the highest peak of Western Europe. The ladies have a name, the summits are called: l’Isolèe, Punta Casati, Punta Castelnuovo, Punta Jolanda, Punta Cretier.
Climbing this ridge or Les Dames Anglaises, is certainly on the list of many expert climbers.

The photo of Les Dames Anglaises is part of the mountain collection. Moments in Mountains delivers prints of impressive mountain photos at home and at the office.

Les Dames Anglaises are part of the Mont Blanc mountain range at Courmayeur Italy and Chamonix France

Nikon Z7ii, Nikkor 300mm F2.8 D, 1/2000 sec, F11, ISO 100, 31 August 2021, 09:54 CET
Les Dames Anglaises are part of the Mont Blanc mountain range at Courmayeur Italy and Chamonix France

Jeroen Roosen https://www.momentsinmountains.com
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