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Mer de Glace

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A view of the Mer de Glace, Chamonix Valley, France at end of the 19th century
Late 19th century view of Mer de Glace, US Library of Congress, PD

Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) is categorized a “valley glacier”, a type of glacier that originates from mountain glaciers and flows down valleys, and located above the Chamonix valley within the Mont Blanc massif mountain range of the French Alps.  Formed by the confluence of the Leschaux and Génant glaciers, the Mer de Glace is the longest and largest glacier in France, and one the biggest tourist attractions in the Chamonix valley as it’s accessible by the historic Montenvers Railway (Chemin de fer du Montenvers) and offers spectacular mountain views as well as tours, exhibits, and restaurant/hotel. However, the powerful beauty and recreational benefits of Mer de Glace were not always appreciated.

During the classical and medieval periods of European history, ice was deemed mysterious, evil and dangerous, and glaciers aroused intense fear as they were thought to be inhabited by demons that swallowed up unwary victims as well as whole villages.  Consequently, glaciers were avoided, not explored, deepening myths and superstitions for many centuries.  In 1690, fearful villagers of Chamonix took action against glacial evil by retaining the services of a bishop to exorcise the glaciers.

Two Englishmen on expedition to Chamonix in 1741, William Windham (1717-1761) an English landowner and Richard Pococke (1704-1765) a high ranking clergyman and anthropologist, disregarded the forewarning of evil lurking in glaciers, and climbed up the mountain for 3¾ hours with the aid of local guides and porters to carry wine (essential drink for 18th century adventure travelers) and provisions.  It was a successful excursion as they returned safely and were able to provide the first written description of the glacier they called ‘Mer de Glace’.  The achievement also marks the beginning of change in attitude as the phenomena of the Sea of Ice later attracted writers, adventurers, artists and photographers.

 

Crossing the Mer de Glace on foot (1902-1904)
Mer de Glace Crossing, Zurich Central Library collection, 1902 – 1904, Public Domain

 

Two hundred and seventy-five years later, the explorers of Mer de Glace are on skis.  In the video Ice Call from PVS Company, pro skier, Sam Favret, takes you on a freestyle tour through the icy waves, trails, and tunnels of Mer de Glace.

 

Vallée Blanche

Mer de Glace is certainly skiable, and you don’t have to be a ski pro like Sam Favret or an expert to enjoy the unique backcountry experience via the iconic off-piste ski route, Vallée Blanche.  But, there are risks.  The surface of Mer de Glace is very rough with gradient drops, large hunks of ice, deep crevasses, and seracs, making it extremely dangerous without sufficient snowfall, good intermediate skills (in all types of terrains & snow conditions) and a local mountain guide.

The Vallée Blanche is accessible from Chamonix, France via a 20 minute ride on the Aiguille du Midi cable car to the mid-station Plan de l’Aiguille (2,317m), then a walk through a tunnel and down a precarious ridge to a small, level area— the starting point for the main Vallée Blanche runs.  There are four: the classic “voie normale” (the normal way), and the more challenging, Le Vrai Vallee Blanche, the Petit Envers du Plan and Grand Envers du Plan.

For the most part, the voie normale follows the valley floor through dynamic terrain, beginning with a descent into a bowl toward a large rock outcrop known as Le Gros Rognon (The Big Rock) and continuing along the mountainside.  The run can be nice and smooth in spots, but depending on weather conditions, there could be deep powder, crusty layers, and icy moguls to navigate.  About 2/3 down, the Refuge du Requin is a popular place to take a break, and 250 meters from there is the start of Mer de Glace.  If snow conditions are good, it’s possible to ski all the way down to Chamonix.  If not, the run ends at Montenvers, thus requiring a steep climb up iron stairs (misery!) to a gondola that connects to the Montenvers Railway.  At a leisurely pace, including lots of stops, sightseeing and long lift queues, the up/down round trip will take 4 – 6 hours, but don’t rush…..enjoy the ride and take in the views.

 

Mont Blanc and Chamonix valley illustration, including Valle Blanche

 

The Fateful Retreat of Mer de Glace

Valley glaciers like Mer de Glace are relentlessly moving, flowing, growing, shrinking and deforming as a result of weather (temperature and snowfall) and stresses caused by the massive weight.  As a result, they are appreciable indicators of climate change.

After a significant cold period in Europe during the late 19th century, Mer de Glace was so large that it reached as far as Chamonix in 1850.  Today, it’s hardly visible from Chamonix as the lower end of the glacier (the ‘snout’) has been shrinking during the last 30 years at a rate of about 4-5 meters (13-16 feet) a year.  There is concern the retreat will not stop as Mer de Glace is an important fresh water source for the region as well as a tourist destination, and Christian Vincent, a French glaciologist with the Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Geophysique (LGGE) and Institut de Recherche pour le Development (IRD), has warned it may shrink as much as 1.2 -1.4 kilometers (about ¾ of a mile) by the year 2040.

Resources/Information:
Wikipedia (Mer de Glace, Mont Blanc massif, Glacier, Richard Pococke, William Windham, Sr., French Alps, Chamonix, Chemin de fer du Montenvers, Aiguille du Midi, Little Ice Age)
The Annals of Mont Blanc – A Monograph by Charles Edward Mathews (1900)
Because It’s There – A Celebration of Mountaineering from 200 BC to Today (William Windham..from an Account of the Glaciers or Ice Alps in Savoy, in Two Letters) edited and translated by Alan S. Weber (2003)
Celebration of the Franco-English Friendship in Chamonix (1936), summitpost.org
Spiritual History of Ice: Romanticism, Science & Imagination by Eric G. Wilson
Chamonix visitor information:  findtransfers.com  (see also; chamonix.com, chamonix.net, ski-chamonix.net)
“Climate Change on Mont Blanc:  The Vanishing Mer de Glace” by Helena Fouquet (2015), bloomberg.com
Mont Blanc:  Glacier in Danger of Collapse, BBC News (September 25, 2019) – Italian authorities have closed roads and evacuated mountain huts after experts warned that part of a glacier on Mont Blanc could collapse.

Great runs, jumps & tricks on these ski videosThere are more bold backcountry runs, big jumps and tricks to see on the “Downhill Runs” video channel and explore at Skiing China

 

 

The terminus, or "toe" of Exit Glacier, as seen in 2011 from the Outwash Plain below it. Exit Glacier will likely never look like this again as warmer temperatures over the past few years have reduced the mass of the glacier.Filmakers traveled to Alaska to explore Exit Glacier, but along with stunningly beautiful mountain views and amazing blue ice, they saw melting.  FREE 2 WATCH → Glacier Exit 

 

 

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Feature photo is a still shot from the video “Ice Call” by PVS Company
Mer de Glace photo by Detroit Publishing Co. (1890-1900), US Library of Congress Prints & Photographs, Public Domain
Chamonix Valley Map sourced from chamonix.net
Crossing the Mer de Glace on foot, photo taken about 1902-1904, Zurich Central Library, Public Domain

The Good Life

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Life certainly has its up and downs.  How do we make the best of it?

That’s the million dollar question we’ve all asked ourselves one time or another, and there’s plenty of ‘how to’ advice out there: Be a success, Get a better job, Make more money, Start exercising more, Eat healthy, Find your passion, Find purpose, making the solution seem like a long list of aspirations.  But, we all discover sooner or later there is no quick fix, and personal or professional accomplishments do not necessarily result in health and happiness.  So, what’s the answer?  Let’s explore.

Family, Friends and Community

Robert Waldinger is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, Zen priest, and director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest continuing study on adult life and happiness.  A valuable lesson emerged from the 75 years of study — Good relationships with family, friends and community keep us healthier and happier, and it’s the quality, not quantity, of the relationships that matter most.

Information/Resources:
Robert Waldinger Ted Talk, courtesy of TED, CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International
Robert Waldinger website (updated Harvard study findings and insights)
Feature photo is courtesy of Derek Thomson/Unsplash CC0

Live in the Moment

When I met Fernando, I was trying to find my way through grief and upheaval, and struggling with what to do next.  I’d been told he had been very ill, suffering a heart attack while being treated for cancer, and he was still recovering when he sat next to me at a hair salon.  The first thing I noticed was his gaunt appearance, but then it was the look in his eyes — a joyful peace, and I remember thinking ‘this guy has been hit hard, but he somehow manages to look like the happiest person in the room’. I wanted to know how he did it. What’s his secret?  During our talk, Fernando asked me, “Have you ever read ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle?” When I said no (I hadn’t even heard of it), he told me, “It will change your life”.  I didn’t believe that, but I got the book anyway and discovered he was right.

In The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, Eckhart Tolle speaks to the topic of personal happiness in a question and answer format, and recommends methods for living in the moment without troubling thoughts of past regrets and worries about the future. The book was first published in the late 1990’s, and remained on the New York Times Best Seller list for years afterward. Some people find the book hard to read, and get more from listening to the audio book. *[As an Amazon affiliate, Zeester Media LLC may receive a small commission for a book purchase you make via the link here. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.]

Laugh Without Reason

Laughter has great short-term as well as long-term effects on both the mind and body that can make you feel happier in some amazing ways.

  • Stimulates heart, lungs and muscles, and increases endorphins (pain relieving, hormone-like substances that are produced and released by your brain)
  • Increases circulation and helps muscle relaxation
  • Releases neuropeptides (protein-like molecules) that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses

Comedy videos: People and PhonesGo ahead – Give it a try.  Watch the Comedy: People & Phones channel, an On2In2™ collection of short videos about the use/misuse of phones – always good for a laugh.

 

 

If you're wondering what your dog is thinking, you should listen to this dog as he reveals thoughts and feelings about life and love.Martin, a dog with some issues, makes everybody laugh as he tells his story in the comedy ‘mockumentary’ series “Downward Dog”.  Watch it here → Dog Speak 

 

Information/Resources:  Stress Relief From Laughter?  It’s No Joke, Mayo Clinic (April 21, 2016)

Connect to Nature

There’s an enduring belief among many cultures that being outdoors and viewing nature are good for mind and body.  But, what to do when you’re trapped indoors?

Research has shown just looking at trees from a window can lighten a hospital patient’s recovery time after surgery, and a study conducted by BBC Earth and the University of California-Berkley revealed that viewing nature in images and video footage triggers a feel good response in people.  As a result of these findings, the free-to-watch & share ⇒ Planet Earth video series was produced by BBC Earth.  The series consists of 40 hours of visual soundscapes taken from footage filmed by the BBC Planet Earth II camera teams while on location.  No commentary on these videos, only breathtaking sights and sounds of nature:  Island Sounds, Mountain Sounds, Jungle Sounds, and Desert Sounds.

Watching nature videos can take you away from the stress of the day and bring on an feeling of happiness.

 

Information/Resources:  View Through a Window May Influence Recovery From Surgery by R.S. Ulrich, The Center For Health Design (1984)

 

Beauty of nature in landscapes is seen in this view of aurora borealis reflecting on a lakeThere’s more nature to see on the Natural Beauty video channel, an On2In2™ collection of favorite short videos.  Amazing views of the extraordinary and Free to Watch, On-Demand

 

 

It’s Never Too Late

“For what it’s worth: It’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit. Stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”

Benjamin Button’s letter to his daughter
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008 film)
Story/Screenplay by Eric Roth & Robin Swicord
Based on short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Eat without gluttony, drink without getting drunk, love without jealousy, and occasionally, with great discretion, misbehave.”* 

*Lessons Learned on the Quest for a Longer, Happier Life by Dan Buettner, The Aspen Institute – Global Health (June 1, 2018) Start with making small changes to downshift through each day – Take more vacation, do not check emails after work hours, eat dinner with family and friends at a table without any distractions, go on a long walk with a friend over your lunch break.

Feature photo is courtesy of Derek Thomson/Unsplash CC0

 

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Explore the Universe

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[su_quote cite=”Carl Sagan, Cosmos”]We know we are approaching the greatest of mysteries. [/su_quote]

 

[su_dropcap]T[/su_dropcap]he Universe has been defined as ‘everything that exists, everything that has existed, and everything that will exist’.  In other words, the Universe is all of time, space, and its contents.  What is currently known about the contents of the Universe can be categorized into three types of substance: normal matter, dark matter, and dark energy.

Normal matter is everything comprised of atoms, including stars, planets, and human beings.  Only a small portion of the Universe (approximately 1-10%) is normal matter.

Dark matter can’t be seen with current technology because it doesn’t emit or absorb light, but scientists know it’s there because its gravitational effects on the motion of galaxies and stars can be observed. It’s estimated that a quarter of the Universe contains dark matter.

Dark energy makes up approximately 70% of the Universe, but nothing much more is known other than it’s a mysterious cosmic phenomenon that affects the expansion of the Universe.

The size of the Universe is another mystery, and it’s believed it has neither an edge nor a center.

So…that’s a lot of unknowns, and you’re probably asking, “What do we know about the Universe?

During a 2008 interview, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson was asked “What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the Universe?”  His answer is recited in this short video, The Most Astounding Fact, from Max Schlickenmeyer.

 

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Astronomers know quite a lot about the history of our Universe, but there is one significant unknown — the cosmic dawn, a period of time when the first stars and galaxies were born and drastically changed it from darkness to first light.  During the March 18 presentation, Glimpses of the Cosmic Dawn, Dr. Alex Ji takes us on a short tour of the early history of the Universe and explains how glimpses of the cosmic dawn era have recently been observed.

If you missed the live stream broadcast of Glimpses of the Cosmic Dawn, there’s still time to watch a video recording of the presentation.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button located on the media player below ↓ 

 

If you missed the May 7, 2018 live stream broadcast of Dark Energy and Cosmic Sound, there’s still time to watch a video recording as Dr. Daniel Eisentein (Professor of Astronomy, Harvard University & Director, Sloan Digital Sky Survey III) describes how sound waves scattered throughout the Universe have given scientists the most precise measures of the composition and history of the Universe.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the media player below ↓

 

The formation of our Solar System was a chaotic collapse of gas and dust as well as catastrophic collisions between forming celestial bodies — a process that resulted in the Sun, planets, asteroids, and comets that exist today.  Dr. Joseph Masiero, Scientist and NEOWISE Deputy-PI, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, discusses how the asteroid families in the belt are the last remnants of those massive collisions, and provide a glimpse into the processes that have shaped our Solar System.  If you missed the April 23, 2018 live stream broadcast of A Tale of Asteroid Families, there’s still time to watch a video recording of the event.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the media player below ↓

 

Dr. Clifford V. Johnson is a professor in the Physics and Astronomy department of the University of Southern California, and he’s been awarded the Institute of Physics Maxwell Medal and Prize (2005) and a Simons Foundation Fellowship (2016).  His research focuses on the development of theoretical tools for the description of the basic fabric of Nature in pursuance of an understanding of the origin, past, present and future of the Universe.  Dr. Johnson is also the author of The Dialogues: Conversations About the Nature of the Universe*, a graphic, novel-style non-fiction book that uniquely brings the reader into conversations about exploring the Universe.  It’s a fun read for the non-expert.  On February 2, 2018, Dr. Johnson talked about his work and the book at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California.  If you missed the live stream broadcast of the event, there’s still time to watch a video recording.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the video player below ↓  

 

 

Inspiring life stories in videoMore about the Universe
Mysteries of a Galaxy     The Sun      Stars      Cosmos Channel

 

 

Information/Resources:

Universe: Dark Energy, Dark Matter – NASA Science  (contents of the Universe explained)
Questions and Answers: What is an atom? (defined & described in simple terms) The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab)
The human body — what is it made of?  (cells, molecules and atoms within the human body) Socratic.org (Anatomy & Physiology)
Wikipedia:  Universe

⇒ ⇒ NASA App (FREE to download for smart phones, tablets & digital media players) Includes a huge collection of NASA content, including images, videos on-demand, NASA Television, mission information, and much more.

⇒ ⇒ Digital Universe Atlas, a 3-D atlas of the Universe developed by the Hayden Planetarium of the American Museum of Natural History (FREE to view and download)

 

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It's easy and fun to join On2In2 social networkWe’d love to hear from you!  If you’d like to comment on this post, join the conversation, or share your inspiration, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’.  Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy.

 

 

 

Feature photo is courtesy of Unsplash CC0