Day 5
The hike today brought us to the Italian border at the Col de la Seigne (8,300 feet)
– the Franco/Italo border. Nice views everywhere. Hiking down the Val Veny, the
Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif and Mont Blanc dominated the scene with
myriad glaciers (Lex Blanche glacier above the Elisabetta refuge) and towering
rocky peaks. I rushed my descent and I paid that with a blister on my right
foot. Elevation gain: 2,100 feet; Elevation loss: 2,835 feet; Distance: 8 miles;
Time: 6 hrs. Adesso sonno a Courmayeur. Courmayeur e una molto buona citta.
glaciers
Paragliders hiking down to take-off point
Day 6 Buongiorno mi' amichi, Come stai? Sto molti benne. This was a rest day in Courmayeur,
another infamous ski resort in the Italian Alps. Together with Cheryl, Maria, Rick and
Laurie, we took a bus to La Palud where we took a series of cable cars to Point Helbronner
onto Auguille du Midi and into the heart of the Mont Blanc Massif. In the afternoon, I
explored the town's narrow streets, sample the local pastries and wine. Dinner at a local
pizza restaurant.
