Saturday, July 16, 2022
Tour du Mont Blanc- Day 6
Rifugio Elena to Hotel Edelweiss, La Fouly, CH
Starting elevation: 2,062 m
Ending elevation: 1,600 m
Elevation gain: 535 m
Elevation loss: 997 m
Distance: 7.2 m
Col Grand Ferret: 2,537 m
Today we left Rifugio Elena to head over Col Grand Ferret, and on to Switzerland. The climb this morning was 475 meters straight away, with no easing in to it. Just start climbing. It was cool and windy, but still sunny, and before you knew it we were all shedding layers.
When we got to the top we were rewarded with a flock of sheep all baa-ing and clanging their bells. This col is the highest point on the tour and also the border between Italy and Switzerland. We stopped to rest at the top and take a few photos.
The prickly heat on my legs is no better than yesterday, so today I’ve packed my wrap skirt in my backpack to wear over my leggings. I’m sure I look ridiculous, but I don’t think my poor calves can take any more abuse.
After the col, we start heading downhill. Our whole hike today is only about 7 miles, so we know we have a lot more time to amble. The initial descent was a tad steep, but Nathan and I got to the first Swiss refuge, Alpage de la Peule for coffee at about 11:30. Pat and Andrew were right behind us, and we all sat and enjoyed our drinks. I personally enjoyed the clean, western toilet with toilet seat. What a treat.
There is a farm-to-table style restaurant up ahead, where the dishes are made with ingredients from their working farm, and after seeing what Rifugio Elena put in our sack lunches, we all think it’s a good idea to stop there.
The trail down from our coffee stop is a dirt road, and we nearly got taken out by a car rounding a corner, but we continued trekking down, into the hotter and hotter valley. At the bottom of the road, we were able to rest in the shade and see what appeared to be the restaurant right up ahead. I was a little nervous that it would be the type of place where you needed to call ahead, but it wasn’t, so we sat down and Nathan and I had our first Swiss meal. Fancy mac n cheese for him, and I had the asparagus risotto, complete with salad, two glasses of wine, and a coffee.
Bellies full, we started for the 40-minute or so walk to our hotel in La Fouly.
We arrived with a herd of other hikers, so check-in took a while. We got to our lovely room overlooking a glacier and promptly sullied the view by hanging our clothesline and skivvies out to dry.
Next stop, the outdoor shop, to see if I can find some overpriced Swiss pants to wear tomorrow instead of my leggings. Mission accomplished, and now my wallet is 150 € lighter.
Chores done, Nathan and I sat outside at the hotel with a drink and tried to relax. Mostly we were trying to ignore some annoying Americans.
Are those bells on those poor bulls?!! Crazy huge.
Those are bells! Cows and sheep all had bells on.