ALTITUDE 3 466 m
GPS ≈ 45.8459° N · 6.9317° EPointe Helbronner
ESCAPES · MONT BLANC MASSIF · ITALIAN SIDE · JUNE 2025
Skyway.
The Madonna and the moon.
The photograph I hadn’t planned.
01 / THROUGH DOYTCHEVA’S EYES
In June 2025, I went back to the Torino hut to take photographs. It had been a long time since I’d spent a night there.
When I go to the Torino hut, I don’t take the Mont Blanc tunnel. I go up to the Aiguille du Midi, then take the Panoramic Mont-Blanc. I cross above the glaciers. And I love that.
It was incredibly hot when I arrived at the hut. I headed out onto the glacier, below the Aiguilles Marbrées, then carried on a little further.
A few days earlier, I’d spotted the Madonna on the summit of the Dent du Géant. It was the afternoon and the light was quite harsh. This time, I was back at blue hour.
I launched my drone and saw the moon above the peaks. I went back towards the Madonna. The moon was right behind her: I only had to shift sideways to line them up. I used the 168 mm telephoto lens. And there it was. Incredible.
What I love is that I hadn’t planned it. If I’d worked it all out beforehand, it wouldn’t have given me the same joy. I remember landing my drone, then calling my best friend and saying:
“Mate, I’ve just taken the most insane photo of my life.”
When you’ve planned everything, that feeling isn’t the same. At least, not for me. And that’s what matters.
UNDERSTANDING LIGHT
Blue hour.
Blue hour is a phase of twilight, after sunset or before sunrise. The Sun is below the horizon but still illuminates the atmosphere: diffuse light reaches the ground without direct sunlight.
The colour of the sky depends on how light is scattered and absorbed in the atmosphere. At twilight, ozone absorbs some orange and red wavelengths, contributing to the deep blue of the sky. This is known as Chappuis absorption.
Despite its name, blue hour does not necessarily last an hour. Its length and appearance vary with latitude, season and atmospheric conditions.
Further readingE. O. Hulburt, Journal of the Optical Society of America, 1953 Twilight optics · San Diego State University
02 / THE PLACE
Skyway Monte Bianco.
Pointe Helbronner.
ALTITUDE 3 466 M · GPS ≈ 45.8459° N / 6.9317° E
From Courmayeur, Skyway Monte Bianco climbs to Pointe Helbronner on the Italian side of the massif. The upper station and its panoramic terrace overlook the surrounding glaciers and peaks.
From Chamonix, the route is different: the Aiguille du Midi cable car followed by the Panoramic Mont-Blanc gondola takes you above the glaciers to Helbronner. This connection is seasonal and weather-dependent. Skyway and the Panoramic are separate lifts; check their tickets and operating times individually.
Further readingSkyway Monte Bianco The Panoramic Mont-Blanc crossing Pointe Helbronner location
The Torino hut.
ALTITUDE 3 375 M · GPS ≈ 45.8443° N / 6.9337° E
Near the Col du Géant, in the municipality of Courmayeur, the Torino hut welcomes mountaineers and visitors wishing to spend a night at altitude. The current hut dates from 1952; the original building was built in 1898.
From Helbronner station, lifts followed by a 150-metre horizontal tunnel lead to the hut’s terrace. Its bar and restaurant can therefore be reached without crossing the glacier. Rooms and dormitories are also available; book overnight stays directly with the hut.
The maintained route to the hut and excursions onto the glacier are two different experiences. Glacier travel is a high-mountain activity requiring appropriate equipment and skills.
Further readingTorino hut · access and bookings Italian Alpine Club · history and altitude Hut location
The Madonna of the Dent du Géant.
The statue stands on the summit of the Dent du Géant, at 4,013 metres. After the previous Madonna was damaged by lightning, a bronze replacement was brought to the summit in 2010 with the help of Courmayeur’s mountain guides.
In the photograph, shifting the viewpoint brings the crescent moon visually closer to the statue’s hands. The telephoto lens tightens the framing around this alignment.
Further readingFriends of the Courmayeur guides · the Madonnina
