Yesterday’s hike concluded with a steep climb up from Trient to Col de la Forclaz. We took a trail rather than hike on the road, but in case you’re wondering what I mean when I say “steep,” Col de la Forclaz is the penultimate climb in this coming Saturday’s stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné. Check out the profile!
You may also recall I mentioned the Swiss cows and their sizable bells. What had been a delightful chiming in the evening was a noisy racket hailing from nocturnal cattle at 2:49 in the morning. It sounded like a gaggle of toddlers wielding wooden spoons trying to destroy high quality pots and pans.
Guillaume slept through this.
But come morning, the scenery was beautiful and the mountains were calling, so off we went after a good breakfast (I believe Guillaume snagged the extra jam packets off our table. Smart guy.)
Had the refugees been open, this is where we would have spent the night, at the shelter at La Bovine (1,987 meters) which we reached less than an hour after leaving Col de la Forclaz.
Our next goal was Champex-Lac…
…and it was beautiful! It was a quintesstial Swiss mountain town. Stunning mountain views, log cabins, the whole nine yards.
Perfect place for a picnic.
We hit the road again, enjoying the total lack of snow which had hampered us the previous day.
A lovely field of wild flowers overlooked a mountain village.
Guillaume showed his appreciation of the flowers by tromping through them and leaving a man-sized depression in his wake.
I don’t think we encountered more than 2 or 3 hikers and just a handful of locals all day.
I haven’t spent much time in mountain villages in my life, so the layout was pretty interesting to me. The houses were all incredibly close to one another, many practically breathing down the other’s neck, reminding me more of a big city than the mountains.
The last several kilometers were pretty flat so we hiked on and arrived at our hotel before too long.
The chairlift was basically in the backyard of the hotel’s patio.
Funny forks and fire at the table? Must mean cheese fondu for dinner.
Our meal was interrupted by an all too familiar sound. About 2 dozen cows sauntered down the street, occasionally picking up the pace when the cattle dog got antsy. Who knew Switzerland had so much in common with India?
The night before, upon arrival at the hotel at Col de la Forclaz, we’d been immediately taken into a barn/cellar. My French is ok but by no means great so all I understood was that we had to leave our shoes here. Guillaume explained we were to borrow Crocs to wear during our stay. Wearing them made me feel a little like a mental patient but they were comfortable enough and my shoes probably smelled so I didn’t mind sleeping away from them.
When we arrived at La Fouly, we were given thin, cheap slippers that really made me feel like I was being institutionalized. I spent the evening in them, shuffling out to the grass to do my yoga, wearing them to fondu, running in them to see the cows storm the town. It was while I was enjoying the livestock that I realized Guillaume was wearing his normal shoes.
“What?! Where are your slippers?” I demanded.
“Oh, they’re weird. I’m wearing my shoes.”
Oh, indeed.
Hike details
Start elevation: 1,527 meters at Col de la Forclaz, Switzerland
Finish elevation: 1,600 meters at La Fouly, Switzerland
Highest point: 2,490 meters at Val Ferret, Switzerland
Lowest point: 1,470 meters at Champex Lac, Switzerland
Hike time: approximately 7 hours