Day 6: Refuge Bertone to Refuge Elena

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 helicopter piloting, as we watched an injured climber be l rescued from below the rock face on the opposite side of the valley. Then it was on to Elena for the night.

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