Day 5: Les Contamines to Les Chapieux

A hot day.

The 5:15 alarm was switched off at 5:10 as I was already awake. I had slept well from 9pm until 2am when I got up for a pee. Gaby also woke around 2am, but for a different reason. Her airbed had developed a leak and she discovered she was effectively sleeping on the ground. She decided I was older and therefore in greater need of sleep, so carried on regardless, despite being offered my camping mat.

We were away by 6am, the first people to leave. Nobody else appeared to be awake when we set off.

The day's route was simple enough: 1,300 metres up followed by 800 metres back down. Sometimes mountain walking does make you wonder about the logic of the whole enterprise. Still, plenty of other people were doing exactly the same thing, so we decided to continue the experiment for another week.

As on previous mornings, we had the trail largely to ourselves early on. It became busier as we passed mountain huts and wild camping spots, with more walkers joining the route for the day.

After a couple of hours the sun had climbed high enough to reach the trail. At the second mountain hut we passed, Gaby asked whether it was possible to buy some bread to go with our salami. The staff appeared to take pity on us, producing several slices of fresh bread and refusing payment. We continued on our way pleased that lunch was sorted.

The bread never made it to lunchtime. It was eaten by mid-morning while we sat enjoying the views from the Col du Bonhomme.

After crossing a few snowfields, the long descent began. The lower we got, the hotter it became. I don't like tomatoes, but by the time we reached camp I bore a passing resemblance to one. More suncream will be required tomorrow.

We arrived at the Les Chapieux campsite at around 2pm, put up the tent, soaked our feet in the stream (saved €2 on a shower) and settled in for the afternoon. Tomorrow promised another hot day, and possibly an earlier start.