Walking in Europe

Sub-title: Big ascents, big kms, even bigger mountain views…

July 29… Yesterday was a cloudless sky (yay!) as we packed up the tent, took the bus back into Courmayeur and climbed up through the cobble streets and picked up the TMB trail at the edge of town which took us up, up through a beautiful forest and a small Col at Bertone and eventually onto the Mont de la Saxe ridge, then a long steady walk with ups and downs to our night at Rifugio Bonatti. Basically a walk with an uninterrupted view of the Mont Blanc glacier complex. Absolutely gobsmacking beauty. The Refugio was wonderful: a bunk bed in a 20 bunk room, fantastic food, and meeting other hikers.

July 30… longest day: 21 kms, 1800 ft ascent, two countries, 4 sore feet.. We started early from Bonatti and walked to the back end of the Doire River valley. We had to first descend to Arnu, then climb a switchback and sometimes straight up trail (a cruel alliteration) to Col Ferret (2537m) the pass at the Italy/Switzerland border. It was a hard slog, but busy with other day hikers and trail runners. We didn’t linger for the temp drop and wind and descended a long gentle winding trail to Ferret and along the road to La Fouly. We’d hoped to get a shuttle the last few kms into La Fouly but decided to walk it (no bus for an hour!). Tonight, safely in our tent as rain clouds gather again… good night dear reader!