Day 2: Les Houches to Contamines (And beyond)...

Distance Walked: 13K (plus 8.5...)
Height Gained: +600 m (plus another 500m)
Height Lost: -1250 m
Height Change: - 650m
Total Distance: 24k
Total Ascent: 1030m
Total Descent: -2780m

Day 2 Map - Starting in Les Houches at the top, ending at Refuge La Balme


Oh, my readers, oh, my gentle readers, how to break it to you? Today I learned that my father, like all men, is mortal. Because we were booked to be in Contamines, but due to Pater's inability to comprehend simple English sentences, we hiked another 8.5 km and another 500m of ascent to Refuge La Balme. But first, the morning!




We had a sunny start out of Les Houches, taking the telepherique up to La Chappelle to begin the days walking. We opted for the slightly shorter but vastly steeper route over the Col de Tricot, which was punishing in both the ascent and descent, but put us at the Refuge Miage for lunch. The skies threatened rain, but cleared up nicely after a few desultory drops. Miage was utterly picturesque and a great stop.

The descent from Col Tricot.





After that it was over the hill to Refuge Le Truc, or at least close to it, and then a descent down into Contamines, part of which was spent racing an ATV on drainage clearance duty - but there were more rain gutters to clear than there were clear spots, so we won.
We got to Contamines in good order and looked for our accommodations - Nant Borrant. Alarmingly, it was 90 minutes away - but then, we'd arrived in Contamines so early, it hardly made a difference! Off we went, past a lovely camp ground with pool, archery, rock-climbing, pony-trekking... then past a church and up a gorge, across a Roman bridge, and finally, to Nant Borrant.
Who were not expecting us.
Fortunately, La Balme had space. It was only another hour's walk... so we walked.
Finally, we heard back from Trek Mont Blanc. We had been booked into a hotel in Contamines. Dad had in fact payed a supplement for that. He'd been sent an updated itinerary... and printed Rhett old one.
I am not going to let him forget this in a hurry.
At any rate, we've a bed for the night and company who I'm ignoring while I write this. Time to be polite and draw this to a close.
- Matt

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