Stage 5: Above the Trees

Le Châble – Clambin – Cabane du Mont Fort 

Tuesday, July 9  

After waking up in the ski refuge in Le Châble, we got some breakfast (toast, jam, fruit, cheese and ham) and took a little extra for lunch; this was becoming a morning ritual. We were also able to talk to one of the Israelis and learn a little bit more about the weather that was going to take place. I also downloaded an app that helped us check for Swiss weather. Then we headed out early into the town of Le Châble.  

Today's route was going to be especially difficult because we are going to be climbing over a mile and altitude. 

As we went up through the town, we passed rushing rivers and cool fountains of water.  We continue to climb a steep incline out of the town through meadows and then into lush forests. 

After a few hours, we came to fork in the road and had to consult our guidebook, because we were not sure what direction to take.  We made a decision and continued to follow the way markers (usually yellow diamonds outlined in black), as the book suggested. 

Well, we got off track and missed the city that we were shooting for and instead found ourselves in the popular skiing city, called Verbier.  

There we rested and along came our Israeli Friends. We left our bags with one of them and went into the city to look for maps that we needed for the next part of our route. We are able to find some maps that we need and we came back to the Israelis and then we join them on our hike up through Verveer, and we also were joined by the two Americans Rick and Anne.  Ricken and are very experienced hikers, so they passed us up and went their own way. We continued hiking with the Israelis, because we had similar heavy loads and we are going in the same direction.  We talked along the way about different things like hiking gear, education, their background, heritage and religion.  Their names are Itai, Sergay, and Eli.  

After taking a few breaks they started moving ahead but we soon joined them at cliff overlooking  Verbier and a beautiful panoramic landscape.  We could tell that they were slowing their pace so that we could keep up with them, and we really appreciated it. As we climbed higher and higher we soon passed the tree line and were in grassy Alpine country. The trail took us along the hillside climbing ever higher and higher, giving us beautiful sights of the surrounding alpine mountains and valleys below. 

We moved past gondolas and other hikers.  As our destination came into view, the clouds had come in and it started to rain lightly. We put on our rain gear, which included a waterproof shell jacket and a pack cover.  

As the rain continued to increase, we saw above us Cabane de Mount Fort, the refuge where we would be staying.  By the time we arriving the rain was pouring down and the warm cabin Hutte, was a welcome comfort and the Americans and Israelis offered a warm welcome.  

The manger/cook only spoke French, so our friend Itai translated.  We took our gear to room 13, which was in the 3rd story, containing a slanted roofed small room with 2 beds and a window.  We went Downstairs to the common area and joined our friends.  I ordered a round of beer for our Israeli friends, to show our appreciation for their help on the hike.  We had conversations over a dinner of soup, salad, barbecued  meat kebabs, with scalloped potatoes, finishing with custard covered in blueberries for dessert.  We talked about hiking adventures, back home, and the next day's route. 

After waiting for the sunset, that would be covered in clouds, we went to bed for a good nights sleep... Not realizing what the next day would bring...