Stage 3: Road to Recovery

Going back to Chamonix

Sunday, July 7th 

We never hiked stage 3 of the Haute Route.  We woke up in the attic of the undesirable converted garage/Hostel in Trient, Switzerland, ate breakfast, and dad ad I had a discussion about the extreme demands of the route and whether or not we should continue.  We were very close to canceling the hike, however, we decided to use the day to rest and recover my missing stuff sack, by going back to Chamonix.  However, how do you get back to a town was 20k away?   

We walked into the village of Trient and found a hotel with a nice manager, who drove us to the Swiss/French border, where we decided not to wait for a late bus, and made a sign that said, Chamonix.  

We didn't wait more than five minutes, before a young French woman picked us and an Englishman who was seizing a ride opportunity.  

Nice French Lady and Sly Englishman

She dropped us in Chamonix and we hiked back up to the hostel and the manager had my stuff sack!  I was so happy -- I almost cried.  

After eating lunch, we caught 2 buses North, back to the border where we originally got a ride.  We made a sign for Martigny/Champix and waited for about an hour, before we were picked up by a young man who was a student near by.  

He was nice enough to pull over and let us take pictures of the Martigny valley and dropped us off at the bottom of the a mountain road.  

We hitched 2 more rides, one from a reckless driving young lady and then a more conservative older woman.  Every single person we've interacted with in Europe has been extremely kind.  

We were dropped in the village of Champix, which is half mountain ski community, for the more wealthy, and half backpacking check point.  

We were hoping to stay In a Swiss Alpine Club Refuge, where we would get 50% off, however, they were full, so we settled for a bed and breakfast, called, Le Cabana next to a beautiful lake.  

It included our own room and HOT SHOWERS!!  It felt like a Hilton, even though the room was small, for us, it was a treat.  We even got to do some laundry in the bathroom sink and after FaceTime with Alina and mom, we slept soundly, with hopes renewed.