Stage 6: Snow and Rain

Cabane du Mont Fort – Col Termin – Col de Louvie – Col de Prafleuri

Wednesday, July 10

"Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you" John 12:35

We woke up early at the Cabane de Mount Fort, paid for our room and meals, and joined the Israelis on our hike to our next destination, Cabane de Prafleuri.  

The hike would "only" be 14 km, however, it would include three mountain passes, or Cols in French. 

We hiked along the mountainside, across snow passes and a very steep hills trying to get to the trail, which had been covered by snow in many areas.  

Itai, Anne, and Rick, looking out over a cliff

Sorgay, Bob, Eli, Itai

For example, one part of the trail was completely covered with snow and the only way to find a safe route up the steep rocky slope, was to go under a snow tunnel. So as we passed our bags to each other through the snow, my dad,  Itai, and myself, my iPhone  brushed against the snow, just enough to get it wet and later, it stopped working!  I was so frustrated!  

A family of ibex

We made it to the first pass, Col Termin (short for terminal?) in 3 hours, when it should have taken us 1.5 hours.  The Israelis had to move ahead, because they were faster and needed time to set up there tents.  

So dad and I kept plugging along, enjoying the views of a lake and mountains.  

We walked on until we came to a huge mountain pass covered in snow.  Col de Louvie.

It was at this point that I picked up my iPhone to take a picture and it was dead.  No response, not even to a charge.  The water damage had taken it's toll.  So imagine the pictures in my mind.  They're beautiful.

Imagine a tall snowy mountain...

We had to put crampons on our boots, like spike strap-ons,  and we started up the col... And up... And up.  It seemed to go on forever!  Finally we got to the top. We looked out over a large valley full of snow, surrounded by mountains covered in snow. It was going to be a snow day! We started down the pass-- slow at first, and then I figured out with crampons on, it's almost impossible to fall. So I started running and sliding, in whatever I could to get to the bottom as fast as I could. It was fun!  

Pretend you are looking out over a snowy valley-- you're doing great!

We Trudged through the valley of snow passing glacier lakes, moving up along glacier streams, and coming to the sign that marked the way to the cabin we would stay in, Cabine de Prafleuri.  However, in order to get there, we had to pass over the highest pass of all 3, Col de Prafleuri, at 2965m (9727ft).  However, as we approached the col, we noticed the clouds were starting to surround us overhead. 

Dark clouds overhead...

Then we heard the thunder. And it started to rain.  First lightly, but after we put on our rain gear, it started really coming down. We continued on trudging through the snow, with our sticks, crampons, and rain gear, while the rain came down on us. We felt pretty miserable.  

...grown men crying like little girls...

After 10 hours of hiking up hills, in the snow, our bodies and minds begin to feel exhausted. We finally managed our way up the col and down into the valley where there was more snow. 

The silhouette of two figures on a white slope...

Eventually we came over a final pass, looking down in the valley at Cabane de Prafleuri, and we were safe.  The final trek was a steep valley of snow and at the sight of the cabin, I felt a renewed sense of energy and learned how to ski.  I made it down the valley and was about to cross the river, when i noticed movement to my left.  i lookes over at the sode of the valley, on a hill, were a family of ibex! (mountain goats with long horns). i stopped to admire them and reached for my phone to take a picture.  The phone the wasn't working!  Oh we'll.  I practically ran up a steep hill to the Hutte and was greeted by Anne.  She had kind words to say and offered to meet my dad coming down the hill.  I got inside to be met by more welcoming and familiar faces.  I got 2 beds in the dorm with our israeli friends and ordered dinner for 2.  

Food had never tasted so good!  We had soup, salad, mashed potatoes, and a roast beef stew.  I'm getting hungry just writing about it!  We talked so more with our friends, Rick, Anne, Itai, Sergay, and Eli. 

Before I went to bed, I asked the lady manager if I could borrow a cup of uncooked rice.  she gave me a puzzled look, so I explained I had read online that if you get your phone wet, putting it in a bowl of uncooked rice would draw the moisture from the device.  She seemed to understand and have me a bowl of Rice.  Would this gimmick work or would my blogging days be done?! 

After eating and talking, we went to bed, not sure if we would hike the next day.