Refugio Bonatti, What a very cool place, high in the Italian Alps...
I know that 8 miles doesn't sound like very much, but oh is it ever hard. There was no elevation loss today, only 3000 feet gain. We meet each morning for breakfast prepared by whatever place we are starting, refill our water bottles (we fill 2 1/2 liters and have to refill on the trails), get our packs ready and off we go. Danielle, our guide says "oh, today is a little up and a little down." In her sweet French accent. What she really means is, we will completely exert ourselves for the next 6-8 hours. :). It is getting a little easier as we are getting stronger by the day. It certainly feels like an accomplishment, one that I might appreciate more when it is completed.
Back to hiking... We left our hotel in Courmayer, hot hot day, hiked about a mile to the trail head, then continued up to some super cool views looking back at the town. We were passed by some ultra runners, practicing for the Ultra TMB next week. Makes you feel a little lame, as they are going to run all 100 miles, in one day! We let them pass and continued climbing at our own pace.
After cookies and chocolate, our usual mid-morning snack provided by the guides, we continued along the grand balcony, the route that traverses the mountain above the tree line. We could see the clouds approaching, and had a quick lunch before continuing on, a little more up, and a little more down, ending with another up:).
We have passed many huts or refuges along our way, having small cafés and beds for hikers to sleep in, but Refugio Bonatti is by far the largest and nicest of them all. We arrived with the rain to find hikers from all over the world, some single, some in groups like ours, and started sharing stories. After showers and finding our dorm (which we all shared). We rented a towel for 3 euro, and stood in line for the showers which required a token for hot water. As the water on the WOMEN'S side was cold, a few of us decided to use the Men's side (the showers were completely enclosed, so no one could see us!), but the Italian men in the line behind us were outraged, yelling "woman, woman!". Tee hee hee, we got hot showers too!
We took our cold beer outside and watched the dramatic show of clouds and storms pass across the peaks on the other side of the valley. We met at 7 for our dinner--amazing what great food they can provide, so far from any towns. We were to leave early the next day, on the trail by 7:30 in order to beat the weather.
After cookies and chocolate, our usual mid-morning snack provided by the guides, we continued along the grand balcony, the route that traverses the mountain above the tree line. We could see the clouds approaching, and had a quick lunch before continuing on, a little more up, and a little more down, ending with another up:).
We have passed many huts or refuges along our way, having small cafés and beds for hikers to sleep in, but Refugio Bonatti is by far the largest and nicest of them all. We arrived with the rain to find hikers from all over the world, some single, some in groups like ours, and started sharing stories. After showers and finding our dorm (which we all shared). We rented a towel for 3 euro, and stood in line for the showers which required a token for hot water. As the water on the WOMEN'S side was cold, a few of us decided to use the Men's side (the showers were completely enclosed, so no one could see us!), but the Italian men in the line behind us were outraged, yelling "woman, woman!". Tee hee hee, we got hot showers too!
We took our cold beer outside and watched the dramatic show of clouds and storms pass across the peaks on the other side of the valley. We met at 7 for our dinner--amazing what great food they can provide, so far from any towns. We were to leave early the next day, on the trail by 7:30 in order to beat the weather.
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