Day 4: Refuge Mottets to La Randonneur

Distance Walked: 23.5 K
Height Gained: +1300 m
Height Lost: -1040 m
Height Change: 260 m
Total Distance: 68.5 k
Total Ascent: 3862 m
Total Descent: -4746 m
Day 4 Map - across the border and along the Valley to La Randonneur.


So, we're back in the world of mobile signals for the first time since crossing Col De La Croix Du Bonhomme, with much to report! Leaving Mottets at 7:30 this morning, we'd completed the ascent to Col De Seigne by 9, and thus crossed into Italy. The view from the Col was extraordinary.
Dawn at Mottets

There follow a selection of views from the Col De La Seigne, right on the French/Italian Border:





The descent down from Seigne into the valley started out pretty ugly - muddy with sparse vegetation - but rapidly turned into a rich, green valley that was a joy to behold. We paused at Refugio Elisabeta for a drink, which involved something of a climb, but was worth it for the unbelievably thick hot chocolate I got.

Stopping for a drink at Rifugio Elisabetta

Just astonishingly thick hot chocolate.

A waterfall we passed along the valley.
 From there it was the first long strides of the trip, over smooth even paths along the valley floor. Just as we were getting used to the pace, however, our route took a sharp right turn into torturing us with a lengthy ascent up the valley sides to give us a good view of the massif. Which it did, but it was very hard work. We paused for lunch...

This was the view.

Butterflies were everywhere.

It's really strange to walk with dozens of butterflies darting around your feet.
 Post-lunch, we completed the last of the descent to the ski area above Courmayer, and settled ourselves in Refugio Randonneur, which the French maps don't bother to mark. Thanks, IGN! Anyway, it seems nice. Tomorrow is a really light day - less than 10K to travel - so more blogging may occur from Courmayer.

- Matt



Dad relaxing on the terrace.

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