Tour de Mont Blanc - Day 4
Day 4 - Saturday 13 July
Transfer from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Les Chapieux and walk to Col Checrouit
today is a 17.50kms - Ascent/Descent: 1132m/1041m (3714 ft/ 3415 ft)
We were picked up from our hotel in Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Base Camp) and taken back to Les Chapieux to start our epic journey.
Mikey and I wanted to do the first 6 kms from Les Chapieux and it was meant to be along the flat, but this was not the case as it was an incline to try and meet the others. This is where the others started. We ran this section to catch the others who took the shuttle to Refuge des Mottets.
The Col de la Seigne (2516m) lies a steep 750m above the Refuge des Mottets and is where you leave France for Italy how frickin epic! Just wait until you see the view! Stupendous! And they absolutely were!
The trail descends through high alpine meadows past refuge Elisabetta into the Val Veni. But the best views of the day lay ahead.
As we reach the snout of the huge Glacier du Miage you climb again onto the southern slopes of the Val Veni. The steep southern side of the Mont Blanc Massif, made up of jagged peaks, hanging glaciers and plunging waterfalls seems close enough to touch. Marmots and marigolds are common on this section and the scenery will have you reaching for your camera every few yards. The trail from Col de la Seigne to Col Chécrouit really must be one of the world’s finest walks.
We meet runners along the way who where doing 30, 55 and 100kms from Courmayeur. We felt like we had joined the race while we ran part of this section. We did however find some fun along the way and found a slide in the snow and the only quick way down was on our bums. Fun but oh so incredible cold but the laughs were mighty.
Arriving at Rifugio Maison Vieille, a typical Mountain Hut which had very simple dormitory accommodation but a lively bar and restaurant with incredible views of the valley and ski field felt a bit hectic as the runners were coming in.
France .. one step … Italy
They said we could also hire towels from the accommodation but as we found out only if they have some and not in the washing so we had to “borrow” some very thin rags from the line which we had to take with us for the next place. These proved to be useful along the hike.
The restaurant was heaps of fun and we had the best dinner of tomatoes sauce and pasta accompanied by the house red wine in a small carafe the best combination of the whole trip. We then had some random veggies and meat but it was fuel for the next day.
The dorm was filled with 13 males and me ….. need I say more not much sleep was had so I got up to watch the sun rise. (There was one very noisy snorer but I'll keep that to myself)
I tried to find some hot water to make fennel tea which was a challenge. I made sneaky tip toes behind the bar and found the big coffee machine and pushed a button and voila steamy hot water. I felt like a naughty little school girl trying to get the sweets and thought I was going to be caught but no harm done it was just hot water. Photos above are early in the morning like 5am in the morning because of the noisy sleeping conditions.
The sun rise was so incredible as we sat amongst the mountains in Italy to watch the glistering sun rise amongst the edges of the rugged edged mountains - Mikey and I sat at the picnic table outside while the sun presented itself above the mountains for the day ahead. It really was surreal and one of my most favourite times on our walk.
Thoughts of the day:
If you are staying in a dormitory, please note:
● Bed sheets are not provided. You must bring a sleeping bag liner. This is compulsory.
● Towels are not provided. You must bring your own.
● Sleep Bag liner definitely needed and own towel is a must have!
● are there any eeeeeeggggs for breakfast? funny the brits had to say it for me
● while a fun experience not the best dorm
● very sleepy today but let’s go
● too hectic with runners coming in
● green t’s on the go
● let’s go down just you and i
● really fun dinner w house red and pasta loved the atmosphere being upstairs. one of the best meals on tour. Simple yet delicisous.
● brekky pretty sparse
