Day Twenty ~ Wednesday, May 15

Our last week was kicked off with a big day, our last huge hike of the trip. Early start because we had to re-walk our steps between Les Contamines back to Les Houches. Well – not quite retrace… This time we were determined to stay on the trail, which would have interesting consequences later in the day.
We kicked it off with an 8 a.m. breakfast for a 9 a.m. departure, which we were great about. As a chef, I stepped aside when we walked by the supermarket – open this time – to buy additional breakfast options (breakfast offered was fairly light) and to get lunch, which ended up being lighter than it had been in past days.
Then we started on the formidable 20km hike. The first half was a gradual uphill walk, totaling in about 2200 feet. Only the last stretch before the peak, and the last stretch leading up to our Gitet were severe uphills.
We had lunch right around 1 p.m. As predicted, it ended up being on the lighter side. It was not too difficult to get people to eat the left over scraps.
Then we were on the move again by 1:30. Shortly thereafter we made it to this red, black and white sign that had a wore that looked like “unpassable” but we “couldn’t read it” and so ignored it. On this section of the trail you go up and over into a steep valley to cross a bridge over the river. Then you hike back out. There’s only one small problem. There was one thing missing… the bridge!
So Hollis changed into his crocs and went in to find a safe route. Once he made it all the way across, he came back and had Christina come in. He anchored himself towards the front and had Christina anchor herself towards the back, and one at a time they both helped us across the river.
The first few people were unlucky and discovered a patch of stinging nettle. Sean M. had it the worst, and his wrists and back of his forearms looked very bumpy. After an hour, we all made it through the ordeal.
Then we hiked back up and saw the same red, black and white sign, which when we realized that it must really be saying some form of “impassable.” We also realized, coming up to the second of those signs, that we were walking on all grass and no trail and so this was also the turn we had missed the other day, and so had become our half-hour detour.
We were all suddenly very grateful to the navigators for missing that turn. But we continued up. Now we had one last severe uphill that went up to the top.
Just a side note, the walking became much less enjoyable with big puddles in our shoes that with no matter what amount of wringing, we just could not get out of our boots.
When we made it to the top, it started to rain. We took a “packs-off” break and huddled together under a shelter. We passed around snacks and chocolate, trying to warms ourselves up and reenergize ourselves.
Finally we stood up and started the intense downhill. It took us probably a good hour and a half, just to get to the bottom. The good thing about this part of the hike, as we went lower and out of the cloud shrouding the ridge and peaks, the sun came out and helped to raise our spirits.
Then we made it to Les Houches. And our final obstacle: a severe uphill for about a kilometer and a half. Finally we made it to dinner, which was pasta and salmon and corn with melted cheese. Not quite as good as the first night (in my opinion) and not quite as much cooked, but still quite filling. And Boogie was as humorous as ever.

-Joseph Bruner