Another great walking day! Billed as the easiest of the entire tour, which I think is probably accurate, though nothing is truly easy about this hike.
Before describing today, a quick look back at dinner last night. We sat with a couple from Northumberland, one a retired teacher and the other a local council member. The retired teacher had the build of a hard core runner, and sure enough, she was. She completed the U-TMB (Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc) a couple of years ago, taking 40 hours to run the 100 miles, with no stops (ie. they run at night too…the elite men do it in about 22 hours!) Her partner was not so athletic–I’d seen her limping along with a strapped knee several times, so they’re doing their current tour at about my pace. Interesting people–I hope we encounter them again.
And a quick note about the Hotel Edelweiss–fantastic room with a Scandinavian feel, and the soothing white noise of streams running down from the glaciers all night helped us both sleep really well. But the staff were notably aloof and unhelpful compared to most we’ve encountered. No, we couldn’t start a tab at the bar knowing we’d likely want a second drink, and no, we couldn’t pay for our first two drinks with a credit card because the total was under 20, when it would have been over 20 if we had a tab…that was a fairly typical exchange. And breakfast was the smallest yet. So mixed feelings. Not sure I’d return.
Having said that, here we are returning to the Edelweiss!!! Notice anything missing from Dave’s kit? We left our poles behind 🙁 Luckily we noticed within about 1/4 mile of setting out, so it wasn’t too bad having to go back for them.
Successfully poled up, we headed down from La Fouly, across a hydroelectric and/or flood control dam…
Past a ropes course, equivalent to GoApe in Thetford…
Along the river briefly…
Love this sign…cartoon man being chased by evil toxic wave…
This part of the trail felt quite dicey. There was even a chain along one part, though I didn’t feel any need to grab it.
Very hard to tell in the photo, but we’re walking here along the top of an old glacial terminal moraine. It felt man-made because it was so straight for such a long way.
Then down through some enchanting Swiss villages…
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The saddle ahead is our destination: Champex. First we have to drop further down to the valley floor, and then climb up the other side. Rather dreading it at this point because it was getting warm.
Stopped for a coffee before the ascent…
The climb provided some entertainment: these sculptures carved into tree stumps. 
Finally, the sign for Champex. Still some more climbing though.
Beautiful lake with a cool breeze.
We stopped for coffee again and icecream, since it was too early to check in.
Even with that pause, we arrived at the hotel to find no-one at reception. So we hung out in the lounge area, where everyone’s luggage was strewn around, including (always a relief!) ours.
Hotel is in need of a bit of a refresh–all rather dated. But nice big room and a view of the lake.
I assume in the morning we’ll head toward the valley heading to the left in this photo? Always a bit of a mystery though.
