Tour de Mont Blanc - Day 9

Day 9 _ Thursday 18 July

Walk from Trient to Tre-Le-Champ 13 kms

Walk 1 - Trient to Tré-le-Champ via Le Tour, 12km, 4:45 Hours  Ascent/Descent: 1000m/858m (3281 ft / 2815 ft)

Walk 2 - Trient to Tré-le-Champ via Aiguillette des Posettes, 13.2, 5:30 hours   Ascent/Descent: 1117m/977m (3665 ft / 3205 ft)

Hihohiho it off to France we go. From Switzerland to France. As we climbed out of Trient, we reached the French border at Col de Balme (2191m). From the col the entire Mont Blanc Massif stretched ahead; the Chamonix Valley, the summit of Mont Blanc, the Aiguilles, the Mer de Glace and the Argentière glaciers!

Did someone say glaciers! Mikey obsession began.

The route then continued via the Col des Posettes and Aiguillette des Posettes, with wonderful views throughout, before descending into the Chamonix Valley at Tré-le-Champ.

Refuge La Boerne - Argentiere - France. Our accommodation was so magical and authentic and very typical of an alpine chalet which dated back to the 18th century.

The afternoon started with finding our rooms, shoes off, walking sticks away and then then a Limoncello Spritz but a lighter version. Salvia & Limone was used. going to hunt this out back in NZ. It was lighter and not as sweet as the normal. Mikey and R&R had beers and everyone was happy.

It was magical to stay here. Everything was wood and every space was catered for with bedding, cupboards. It was fabulous. The restaurant had Savoyard cuisine and a sunny hamlet of Trelechaps. The staff was lovely and so friendly. They had a great wine list that sported Croz Hermitage, Rhone etc a lot of wine recognised. The owner was a sommelier and his wife was great. We didn't usually have croissants and pastries offered but vegetarian food made with love. Salade Verte that we were meant to share with the table next door, dahl de legumes with rice then delicious Fromage and bread sprinkled with salt and pepper then dessert.of Compote de Pomme / applesauce …… and of course red local red wine.

We (all the hikers) sat outside and enjoyed the company of different people and their cultures and shared stories about the day and where people had come from and what they were going to expect. The next day was the ladder day!

After dinner Mikey found a great little walk around the village and we came across some more incredible views of the sun setting on the peaks.

Great time and a great night's sleep.