TMB to Champex Sun 10 Sep 2023

Up around 6am as people were taking their gear downstairs for tour operators. Breakfast at 7am. Left our accommodation at Maya-Jolie in La Fouly (1600 metres) at 8.30am and Richard stayed at the bus stop. Yvonne , Karen and I followed the TMB path down the Val Ferret. Yvonne swapped her socks for a pair of mine trying to find the best combination for her blistered toe and her boots. Morning tea around 10.45am at a spot in the forest with a natural sleeping overhang as well as a constructed shelter with a moss roof. After a steep rough service road descent Yvonne was in a lot of pain and swapped boots for crocs for the rest of the day. Walked through the Swiss village of Saleinaz (1204 metres) and photographed some of the buildings. Later stopped at a cafe/restaurant in Orsieres (887 metres) around 12.30pm. Walked uphill for over 450 metres vertical to leave the Swiss Val Ferret to reach the plateau containing Champex-Lac at the base of Mont Blanche. We passed a rock climbing area around the highest point of the track with a ladder in the rock face. There were also a number of carvings on the side of the track. Karen, Yvonne and I reached Champex-Lac (1470 metres) around 2.30pm with enough time to have coffee and cake before walking on to our accommodation for the night. Richard joined us for coffee having travelled from La Fouly by bus earlier. From the cafe there was about half an hour walk to the gite and Karen and Yvonne bought apples and nectarines on the way. We arrived at the Gite Bon Abri in Champex about 4.15pm. Karen and Richard paid in cash for our accommodation in a 3 double bunk room without any extra people.Read more