Wednesday, 7 July 2010

Day Two – Col de Balme to Champex via Col Bovine

 

Hot…6hrs 15 of walking. Height gain 876m, loss 657m.

Quickly gained height up to the Alp Bovine  (Cow Alp(!)) at 2000m where an early lunch was called for – local sausage, alpage cheese and bread with pickles. Very nice way to add some power to the day. Very hot already – hit about 30c today:

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View from lunch from the Alpage,including a few cows: Hmm… steak….

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(above) View down to Martigny

(below) young steak

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Interior of a modern-ish alpage at 2000 metres; teh guardian both tends the cows and provides excellent food for the passing walkers. Everything has to be helicoptered in – closets road is about 4km, and 400m down.

 

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First of 4 stream crossings; icy cold glacier snow melt needs careful use of poles to test the depth – the water is so clear it could be 4cm or 40cm! No soggy feet today, but a fairly punishing 600 metre drop in one km across the ground. 12km from the alpage to Champex in searing heat. Made good time and matching the times suggested by the signs, so feeling quite content.

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So hot on the road sections that at one point I was leaving footprints in the tarmac – though that might be the weight of my pack.

Ache today!

 

Photos – Flowers:

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1 comment:

  1. Keep on with the obligatory flowers - tiny flowers, i guess, but dramatic impact in the photo.
    Love - Sue

    ReplyDelete