HAUTE ROUTE_2013
DAY 4: LE CHABLE (2694 FT) TO CABANE DU MONT FORT (8061 FT)
(Stage 5)
We woke up at 7am well rested and hungry. The breakfast at Hotel de la Poste included the standard fare (bread, butter, jam, ham, cheese, juice), as well as fresh croissants and espresso. We hit the trail at 8:30am, first passing through small villages and then into forests, with steep trails the whole way. Stopped at the tiny village of Clambin (5676 ft) around 12pm for a picnic lunch under some shade. The food we bought from the grocery store yesterday included bread, turkey salami, very stinky cheese, olives, orange juice, chocolate milk, and iced coffee (in tetrapaks), Ovo Sport energy bars, and fresh apricots to finish it all off. The very first marmot sighting of the trip occurred during lunch.
The steep trails continued after lunch through more forests and a switchback road that doubles as a ski slope in the winter. It was a slow and tiring hike, but the trails conditions were good and the weather was perfect (sunny, breezy, high 60s - low 70s). There were fantastic views of Val de Bagnes, the Grand Combin, and Mont Blanc in the distance. We stopped at Les Ruinettes (7201 ft) to watch paragliders take off and soar into the clear afternoon sky. After spotting more marmots and passing by an interesting sculptural trail, we arrived at Cabane du Mont Fort (8061 ft) at 3:45pm (15 minutes faster than the 8 hr estimate posted in Le Chable! A rarity for us.)
With over 5300+ ft elevation gain, this was another tiring day. But the weather and trail conditions were perfect, and it felt great to finish so early again. We lazily lounged around on the terrace of Cabane du Mont Fort, enjoying a Coke, Rivella, and the breathtaking panoramic views. There were several other hikers staying at Cabane du Mont Fort, including a large guided group from Australia, Bruce and Christine, also from Australia, and a group of three British hikers who were camping and still managed to pack very lightly. Tomorrow we would get to know Bruce and Christine better as the four of us, hiking together, followed the tracks of the three British hikers through seemingly endless hours of snow.
Dinner at Cabane du Mont Fort was a relaxing four-course affair on the terrace in the setting sun. We had minestrone soup, salad, spaghetti bolognese, and vanilla pudding with fresh raspberries. Great food and even better views. Because the cabin was far from full, we had a room with three bunk-beds all to ourselves.
5.6 miles, 7.75 hours.