The 7-Year Wait: How Patience (and Car Breakfast) Enables Family Adventures

Have you ever had a dream adventure that seemed just out of reach? For seven years, that was our family's story with the amazing Grand Balcon Nord hike in Chamonix. But yesterday, we finally cracked the code – and it all came down to breakfast in the car.

A happy family confident half way through the challenging hike!

The Challenge: Family Adventures with Young Children

Picture this: three kids, a wife who stubbornly prioritizes her morning coffee, and a dad determined to get everyone out the door for an alpine adventure. For years, our attempts to hike Grand Balcon Nord as a family ended in frustration. We'd arrive at 10:30 AM, only to face long queues and hungry, cranky children.

The number of days we've shown up for an adventure or activity at 10:30 AM, just to get going before everyone screams "FOOD!", is staggering. It might seem trivial, but with young children, getting a good night's sleep and having everyone ready early has been nearly impossible.

The Turning Point: A Simple Solution

Yesterday was different. We woke up early and implemented a strategy I've been dreaming about for seven years: family breakfast in the car. As we moved everyone into proper clothing and towards the car, we snacked on the go. This simple change was our key to success.

Our youngest is turning four in a couple of weeks, marking a new phase in our family life. Suddenly, what was once impossible became achievable. We were able to set out early, beating the crowds and our own hunger pangs.

The Grand Balcon Nord Experience

We arrived at the Aiguille du Midi lift station in Chamonix at 8:30 AM – a feat in itself! We secured tickets (we have the annual pass, highly recommended!) for the 8:50 lift, a stark contrast to our previous attempt when we arrived so late that there were no tickets until after lunch, turning our hike into a mere afternoon picnic with a view.

After quickly parking the car and a sprint back to catch our lift (a notoriously busy one!), we started our hike from the midstation at 9:10 AM. What followed was a 6km journey on a beautiful but technical path.

The trail presented its challenges, especially with kids. There were 'you fall you die' edges more often than I care to remember. We took five breaks to sit down and eat, maintaining our energy throughout the hike.

The first third of our adventure was in sub-zero temperatures, with frozen ponds, icicles, and fascinating frozen elevated ground areas. These strange formations, where the ground appears to grow icy columns, are likely caused by warmer ground vaporizing water that freezes at the surface.

Everything was frozen as we started the hike.

The Importance of Timing: A Cautionary Encounter

As we approached the final stretch of our hike, with just an hour left of our 5-hour journey, we had an encounter that put our early start into sharp perspective. We met a family with two kids heading in the opposite direction, just beginning their ascent of the trail we were completing.

After they passed, a sobering realization hit us. This family had exactly 4 hours left until the lift closed to complete their hike - the same amount of time we had already spent reaching this point, and we had been going downhill for much of it. They faced a daunting task: to cover the same distance we had, but mostly uphill, and in the same or less time.

We couldn't help but question whether they would make it in time. The alternatives weren't appealing: if they missed the last lift, they'd be forced to walk the grueling 1000m descent to the village, likely carrying their exhausted children.

This chance meeting was a stark reminder of the challenges that can arise from a late start, especially when hiking with children. It reinforced our gratitude for our new early-morning strategy and the foresight we had in planning our day.

Proof of Success: The Early Bird Gets the Worm

Our early start paid off in more ways than one. At the end of our hike, we arrived at the beautiful Montenvers hotel and restaurant, a perfect spot to rest and refuel. While waiting for a table, I struck up a conversation with a group of hikers who had a very different experience.

This group had arrived at the same lift station as us, but just one hour later. The difference that hour made was staggering. They told me that by the time they arrived, the lift was fully booked for the entire day. Frustrated but determined, they had decided to buy tickets for the next day just to ensure they'd get a spot in the lift and have a chance to visit the famous Aiguille du Midi.

Their experience was a stark reminder of what our day could have been like without our new "breakfast in the car" strategy. Had we arrived just an hour later, we wouldn't have been able to complete the hike at all. Instead of enjoying the breathtaking views of the Grand Balcon Nord and celebrating at Montenvers, we might have been left disappointed, planning for "maybe next time."

This encounter was the ultimate validation of our early morning efforts. It proved that without our breakfast-in-the-car trick, we wouldn't have been able to finish the hike. More importantly, it showed how a small change in our routine opened up a world of possibilities that would have otherwise remained out of reach.

Lessons Learned

This experience taught us the power of small changes in routine. By adapting our morning strategy as our children grew older, we unlocked new possibilities for family adventures. Patience and persistence over these seven years finally paid off.

Tips for Other Families

1. Consider flexible meal planning for outdoor activities. A car picnic might be your game-changer!

2. Prepare your children for challenging hikes by discussing the adventure beforehand. Strava Fatmap - Grand Balcon Nord in Chamonix Massif du Mont Blanc

3. Be ready to adjust your expectations and plans as your family dynamics change.

   
   

Conclusion: Car Breakfast Enables Family Adventures

After seven years of attempts, we finally conquered Grand Balcon Nord as a family. This success wasn't just about the hike; it was about finding a way to make our family adventures work for everyone. With our new car breakfast strategy, we're excited to start our adventures earlier, avoid queues, and do so much more. It truely enables family adventures for us!

Finally the sun came out behind the north facing peaks.

What family adventure have you been dreaming of? Maybe it's time to think outside the box (or the kitchen) and find your own game-changing strategy. Share your stories in the comments below, and don't forget to subscribe for more family adventure insights!

Remember, sometimes the simplest changes can lead to the biggest breakthroughs. Happy hiking!