Daily Archives: 23 June 2015

June 23rd

Start: Col de Recon; finish: Alpage Le Lapisa
Distance: 29,2 km
Walking time: 7 hours 45 minutes (and 1 hour for the stops)
Vertical distance: 1450 m uphill; 1390 m downhill

A dull, rainy day.  It had rained during the night, so all the grass and bushes were very wet.  The paths were very muddy and slippery, needing utmost care.  Just after passing the French ski lifts of Super Châtel (where heavy machinery was being used to “improve” the pistes and lifts), it started raining again heavily just as I had to climb a steep slope of undergrowth and moss-covered stones, often having to pull myself up on tree roots and branches.  Soon I was completely soaked and my boots full of water.  Mercifully it soon stopped raining and I was able to empty the water out of my boots and wring out my socks.  The rest of the day passed uneventfully and I reached the day’s destination:  Le Lapisa, a mountain dairy farm below the Col du Cou that offers accommodation and meals.  Sally and Neil arrived by car bringing with them Victor, who was to be my guide for the next 3 days, before returning down into the valley.