La Femma to Pralognan – Quite Far

Today was to be the longest, but not the harshest, day’s walking.

I awoke on the floor of the kitchen due to a student sneaking her way through to the outer door. I woke Danny in his upper bunk and we cooked some pasta and Go Outdoors prepared sausages with beans. Dan chucked some chopped cheese on it and we broke our fast.

Today was a long walk. Twenty four kilometres. Not that long, but it is when you’re at a slightly higher than normal altitude and the path goes up as well as down.

With some reminders of those who have perished en route. So young. Poor little bugger.

We were walking down the valley, to where two rivers meet, the Rocheure and the Leisse. With glaciers clinging on to north facing corries, desperate to avoid the inevitability of globular warmington on sea.

We made good time in the cool morning air. Marching like men do. Strutting like peacocks. The track almost became a road.

And over to the east, where we would resurface in a week’s time, the needles pierced the sky.

The needles pierced the sky? Getting a bit poncy aren’t we, you soft pillock? Who are you calling a soft pillock?

Meeee!!!!!!!!

Great walking country.

And we stopped for a water break at the next Refuge, which was as unstaffed as the rest.

We were above the confluence of the two rivers and turned upstream along the banks of the Leisse. This river has carved a deep valley to the south of two impressive Alpine peaks. La Grande Motte and La Grande Casse. Beneath Casse, the highest peak in the Vanoise, stood a small bridge, straddling the Leisse.

Over we went and up the other side to the Col de la Vanoise. From halfway up the Col the view eastwards of La Grande Motte was rugged and wild. Its scoured slopes, made pleasant by winter snows, stood harsh and naked in the autumn sun.

Another water break and consult the map. Danny’s got Strava, which keeps us on track when he can garner a signal.

On the brow of the Col another memorial to another fatality.

Just a few more steps to go before the track levelled out.

Thank the Lord it’s dry and warm otherwise these rock faces would be treacherous. Lucky we.

The glaciers on La Grande Motte were a shadow of their former stature. Warmington on Sea. “I’ll help Captain Mainwaring!”

The route across the Col was much longer than we thought. Beautiful nevertheless.

We reached the Refuge de la Vanoise and started to follow the track in a long, slow descent. With Danny leading.

How fortunate for us to be here, in the middle of billions of stars at this point in time when there is sufficient oxygen to maintain our lives and with the ability to climb and carry food. We are free men in Paris, we feel unfettered and alive. Thanks Joni.

We are going down to the town of Pralognan to stay in a hotel, sleeping in a bed and not on the floor.

What a wonderful day. I’m overjoyed to be here and to be here.

Dinner in the only open restaurant was cooked for us, after a fashion, and a jolly good night’s eating, drinking, carousing and sleeping was had by all.

Hooraaay!

Night night.