Our first day of hiking seemed a bit longer, further and higher.
By bus we left Chamonix for La Tour, a ski resort at the upper end of the valley. The Haute Route hiking signs measure distance in time and the sign at the bottom of the ski lift said it was 2 hours to the Col de Blume. We started strong believing our training at Bogus Basin and the Boise foothills seemed familiar. And about two hours later we arrived at the Col and found a refuggio/mtn hut open for business and ordered some cafe aulets. The hut sat on the Suisse border and once again we were in Switzerland. After our coffee we had another 100 meters or so to the top and started our descent through alpine meadows, grazing sheep, goats and cows.
A little ways down at a trail intersection we saw some mtn bikers on the trail and were amazed what they were doing. I definitely require a full suspension bike to ride these trails. We stopped for lunch of local cured meats, cheeses, bread and fruit we brought from town. We will see if this menu still satisfies our hunger 10 days from now.
The trail gradient is somewhat steeper than I am used to. My legs were burning and feet were heating up. The sign said another hour and 10 minutes and we would arrive in Trient. The signs don't lie. By 2:30 we found our hotel in the small and old village of Trient. I wonder what people do here other than cater to the Haute Route hikers.
We are stiff, sore and tired. The hotel will serve our dinner at 7pm. I hope I am still awake. Jet lag hit hard last night and I did not sleep at all. I need an early bedtime for tomorrow's 14km hike to Lac de Champex.
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