Ok , I know there are a few! but it was too hard to choose …. there were another 587 that I didn’t add! The view from the top of the cable car Aiguille Du Midi . 3842m Looking at where I am heading…… The official start in Les Houches… My pants won’t be this clean again for 2 weeks Day 1 Col de Tricot Variant The high route on the way to Les Contamines No sign of the storm.. And the way down…. Day 2 on route to Refuge de la Croix Bonhomme Gorgeous walking on the Chemin Romain…
I set my alarm for before sunrise. I didn’t need to – I hadn’t really slept and watched the time tick by since 5am. I got up as soon as I heard the first rustle of a sleeping bag in the dorm. In the dark I tip toed down the stairs to the pitch black boot room to get my pack ready for a swift exit. It was my last day and I felt I’d spent enough time in this spectacularly located but dark , cold hut. Using torch light I cleaned my teeth and took off…
This was to a 9 km day for me so a shorter distance but a a very challenging one. Described by one travel writer as “the best short hike in the world” this 9 km stretch included ridge walking with iron railings secured to cliffs and and the famous ladder section of the walk . A series of ladders attached to rock – the longest ladder being 30 metres up a sheer rock face. I had NEVER done anything like this before . There was an alternative route for those with fear of heights but it meant missing…
My last walking day in Switzerland . I walk back into a France today on the final leg of this incredible adventure. I am willing the days to slow down as suddenly I can’t imagine a day not starting with the lacing up of shoes and the clipping on of my pack but mainly I can’t imagine not looking up to see these mountains framing my day. It is the most breathtaking scenery I have ever seen . Each and every day so far has stopped me in my tracks, my breath just taken away. It is…
I woke to the sound of pouring rain at 6.30am . I looked out the window and it was a grey clouded sky filled with more of the same . It wasn’t looking good for my determined plan to take the high route. I kept thinking it will lift as I sped down to breakfast . A delicious start with eggs!! Joy . Scrambled on warm wholemeal rolls. I grabbed my pack and wrestled into full rain gear. Off to meet the Jeff, Steve and Jay. Their faces said it all as I appeared down the…
After a good sleep and a bread and jam hut breakfast I head down to the boot room. There they are just sitting there my beloved boots that have seen me through every walk for the past 5 years. Before I came away I was a little tentative about these boots – I hadn’t trained in them I had used my trail shoes instead . When I came to put them on they did feel tight across my toes. I didn’t want to bring new boots on a walk like this without wearing them in so…
As per the unspoken rule of the hut there is the silent morning shuffling beginning around 6am. Walkers, so sociable the night before, walk past each other heads down mute and focused on what needs to be done to get a start on the days walk. Not a word is exchanged as teeth are cleaned by head torch and feet are taped . Snorers waken unaware of the fact 15 sets of bloodshot eyes are glaring at them and women can just be barely heard muttering to a confused and slightly frightened looking husband “I gave it…
Slept in a post pizza coma . And headed down to make the most of ‘breakfast included’. Today began with one of the steepest climbs of the walk – a first up 1200 m ascent . I had extra toast after my two hard boileds. I had grabbed fruit for the day in a little shop last night so knew 2 massive pink ladies were shoved in my pack . There is room for very little else in this pack but I force trail mix , fruit and chocolate in come what may. I think my…
I forgot to say that the dinner at this refuge last night was incredible! It was clean and modern and the staff were gorgeous. It has been a big improvement in my feelings about the hut side of things since the last stop . Unbelievably I was in my allocated spot for dinner and out of all the hikers I got sat next to the Korean duo again! I had seen them yesterday at the top of Col de la Seigne . One of them was flying a drone to get an aerial shot . In the…
Hut rule .. everyone wakes at around 6 . It’s still dark . No one turns a light on . People move in silence with head torches on . In a a zombie like coal mining trance . Moving in silence clutching small fast drying towels and tooth brushes everyone shuffles to do ablutions and head to breakfast . The only sound is the rustle of hiking pants and the clicking of back packs . At breakfast the hut comes alive and people move fast to fuel for the day. I looked around in a panic ..…