To board or not to board.

Waiting for a plane... this plane? Who knows...

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Day 10: Trient to Auberge La Boerne

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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...
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Day 6: Refuge Bertone to Refuge Elena

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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...
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Day 11: Refuge Boerne to Chamonix

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Distance Walked:  10 K Height Gained:  +810 m Height Lost:  -565 m Total Distance: 160   k Total Ascent:  9197   m Total Descent:  -10041 m Missing some data from the start of the day due to time zone issues - we started right up at the top right. The day started with rain, and ended much the same way. As we progressed the waterproof layers came off and the fleeting views of Mont Blanc behind the rising mist, as the heat of the day drove the moisture out of the valley, added to the knowledge that this was our last day. A missing section in our guide notes resulted in us missing out on a 450m ascent to one of the tour visual highlights.  This did not distract from our sense of satisfaction on arriving at Planpraz to complete the tour.  Back in Chamonix  we then had time to reflect on the journey, and to try to balance our sense of achievement with the sad knowledge that at the same time our...
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