Day 9

Champex-Lac to Col de Forclaz, Switzerland (a little town at the pass above the Rhone Valley in Martigny) “Embrace the mud” was the motto for the day. We started late (10 am) to try and avoid the downpour. Today’s hike was classified as pretty easy, with one really hard section of about 2200 feet of gain in less than two miles. Our guides pointed their hands up vertically, then folded them backwards to describe how steep it was. Some of the steps were so big, we were literally climbing! Eventually, we were above the clouds. We had lunch at a refuge and listened to the cowbells jingle. Our town tonight has one hotel and one store. It is at the very top of the pass. We have seen many bicyclists meet up with support cars here. We also continue to run into fellow hikers that we have met previously. Two women, both from the US, are some of our favorties. They are doing the hike on their own, and as the towns are so small, we always end up seeing them at the end of the day. Another lovely dinner, and we are ready to rest for tomorrow brings our last really hard day of hiking. Lots of cows today! Oceans of love, Katie & John Our friends, Whiskey Sally & Dora