Day 9 - Col de la Forclaz - Col de Balme - Tre-Le-Champ

The plan was to break often and snack a little each time, but once my stubborn wife got rolling there was no stopping her. We wound up a well-shaded, with a significant switchback trail. It was early and it was already feeling quite warm. With all I was carrying I was sweating bullets. Twice I suggested we break. Jennifer wanted to march on, she claimed to be cold! It wasn’t very cold in my world!

We passed a few picnic tables and benches. It was one of the first times we saw so many on a trail. Maybe someone was giving us a hint to rest. About halfway up we passed another table. This time Jennifer agreed to stop. So did the friendly French guys who we shared the room with at the Hotel Forclaz.

Once we started again, we exited the forest and looked up through the clearing. Once we reached the top the view was stunning, but similar to the previous day's.

We all marched down and headed for Tre-Le-Champ without knowing if we could stay the night there. If indeed the boorish man from the hotel was correct, and they were fully booked, we would have another 3 ½ hour climb straight uphill once we got there.

When we arrived at Augerge La Boerne the caretaker hesitantly took us around the to show us the attic, saying it was the only space, we didn't care. While only about 3 feet high, one does sleep horizontally and it looked great to us.

The story continues...