Day 3: Contamines to Refuge Mottets

Distance Walked:  21K (less 8.5!)
Height Gained: +1532 m (less 500m!)
Height Lost: -926 m
Height Change: - 606 m
Total Distance: 45k
Total Ascent: 2562 m
Total Descent: -3706 m
Day 3 Map - from La Balme on the left to Mottet on the French/Italian Border on the Right.

Morning at La Balme

Looking back towards La Balme, about 20 minutes later.
The view from the first Col of the the Day, Col du Bonhomme

...And from the third, Col Des Fours.


Looking back towards Col Des Fours. Star Trek Fans might get a Kirk's Rock kind of vibe.

Dad and I on our way down from Col Des Fours towards La Ville Des Glaciers

Dad takes a moment by a stream to cool his feet.

So, day three is done, and our Tour du Mont Blanc is more than 1/4 done. Today was a light day, in terms of distance, thanks to the big extra chunk we did yesterday - just 12.5 km, although with over a kilometer of ascent to cross Col Des Fours. From La Balme, it was a couple of hours of steady climb up to a small shelter at Col du Bonhomme, then a long traverse around to Col de la Croix du Bonhomme - because that's not confusing at all! - then more climb to reach Col Des Fours, at 2665m, the highest point of our day and the third pass off the day. After that it was a steady descent into the lovely green valley - initially though tumbled scree and avalanche detritus that felt like the surface of Mars, then through green and pastoral scenes alive with pretty,  non-biting insects - towards la Ville des Glaciers, and then a short walk to Refuge Mottets, where I write this. Mottets is less "Refuge" and more "pretty good youth hostel", by the way - it's very pretty, and we have our own little room instead of being in a dorm. The quality of the food and company was higher than at La Blame -  not to say La Balme was bad!
Tomorrow, we say goodbye to France and cross into Italy via the Col de la Seine, on our longest day's hike to Refuge La Randonneur, close to Courmayer. Close enough to get signal to publish this? Who can say...
 



Comments

Post a Comment

Live Map

Popular posts from this blog

Day 6: Refuge Bertone to Refuge Elena

Image
Distance Walked:  16 K Height Gained:  +550 m Height Lost:  -360 m Height Change:  190 m Total Distance:  94 k Total Ascent:  5202   m Total Descent:  -5766 m Not impressive on the map. Very  impressive in real life. Started the day with fantastic views of Mont Blanc massif. (After a very typical French breakfast... in an Italian refuge). The views as we progress along the valley constantly changing but for most of the day dominated by Mont Blanc. This was made even more spectacular by a thin wispy mushroom-cap cloud lightly shrouding the summit. All this made the long uphill drag to the refuge the afternoon before all the more worthwhile. As well as the backward views we faced the steep drop to our left (occasional very exposed) on the long contouring path, which led us to the head of the Val Ferret, and a pull up to Refuge Elena. The final part of the day was dominated by some  spectacular he...
Read more

Day 10: Trient to Auberge La Boerne

Image
Distance Walked:  13.5 K Height Gained:  +1126 m Height Lost:  -970 m Total Distance: 150   k Total Ascent:  8387   m Total Descent:  -9476 m It's somewhat peculiar walking through a ski area, but the views today were completely worth it. A day of surprises from beginning to end. The walking guide notes led us to believe that at the start we would face a hard steep trek up through forest before the final uphill section to Col de Balme. Maybe fitness levels had improved over the previous 9 days, but the generally easy pitch of the zig zag path proved not to be hard at all. Then the next surprise. As we reached the C ol, the awesome views of the Mont Blanc range opened up in front of us. Absolutely worth every step of the 900m plus ascent. The less adventurous could get to within 120m by skilift from the Chamonix valley, but the views would not burst upon you in the same dramatic way. The next surprise came...
Read more