Day 2 Walkies



 The next leg of our journey started spectacularly.  The weather was bright and sunny, the temperature was cool to warm.  Our mission was to walk from Les Contamines-Montjoie to Les Chapieux.  All up, a lateral distance of 16km or so; an elevation gain of 1200m and a descent of 900m.

The initial countryside was beautiful rolling hills.  Very green with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains.  It didn’t take too long before we began to travel up, up and up.  The green landscape remained in parts but was broken by the effects of glaciers/moraines.  Rock and rocky became more and more the description of the environment. Still beautiful but different than the lower valley.

As we neared the pass of Col du Bonhomme (alt 2329m) there was more snow and ice, the weather started to close in, rain began, the wind intensified and the temperature dropped.  It was the antithesis of how the day had started.  Anyhow, some quick rugging up and waterproofing saw us continue.  The afternoon became a case of down, down and further down.  The prolonged downhills are particularly tough on the knees and the thighs.

Eventually, we made it to our next hotel.  It has been a hotel for centuries, literally.  It was quaint and well appointed.  However, shock-of-shocks it did not offer Wifi.  Unbelievable!  Somewhat making up for the shortfall in wifi, the food was excellent and the local wine was pretty good.

With a full belly, tired legs and no wifi, we went to bed early in preparation for the next day.


The day starts with sunshine!


Cold weather gear!
The weather closes in!

Our hotel at Les Chapieux

As it was100+ years ago.







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