Easy Jet sure is easy.
Getting to Gatwick was a bit more stressful. Roadwork, traffic and
bad luck made us very nervous about missing the plane. Jonathan stayed cool...
Getting to Gatwick was a bit more stressful. Roadwork, traffic and
bad luck made us very nervous about missing the plane. Jonathan stayed cool...
...chewed some gum and got us there with time to
get through a very thorough security and get some crisps.
We landed in Geneva without incident then Eric us drove to Champex Lac.
The door of Pension En Plein Air gives a hint of what is to come...
...in every respect.
We met our glorious wonderful host Uta.
We learned that 75 people are expected by tomorrow night!
Saturday morning Scott and Eric apply their significant coffee skills
to the local machine.
The plan for this beautiful and sunny day is...
...a hike to the Cabane d'Orny at 2831 meters.
We start at the chair lift...
...which takes us about 800 meteres up.
Then we began the hike. This was our first Swiss adventure without Carl and Fred. I began the day missing them terribly, perhaps for the first time since we dropped them off just over 1 month ago
(1 month!! YIKES!) Because I too am experiencing so many new things both exciting and challenging, I have, up until now, felt more in the same boat with them. Now for the first time, I felt in the boat alone. Eric have me a big long hug...there is nothing more powerful than shared experience. I put on my Harvard fleece and headed out.
In a reversal of things, the F1 here stay behind.
 |
| Will, Pippa, Inka, Alice and Nina |
Within a short time, the alpine legs were in full gear!
At the first plateau, we stopped and turned around.
We continued up....
..and around the corner appeared the glacier.
The hut, our goal, is visible on the next ridge. Look straight up from
Jonathan's (white shirt) head, then just to the right.
Dramatic up close,
the glacier is not easy to discern from the surrounding moon-like landscape.
Note lake in far right corner.
After 2.5 hours of climbing, we reached the hut.
Plaques are on the most remote things in Switzerland.
We stopped for a serious snack.
Theses Crocs are provided by the Swiss Alpine Club (see logo on strap.) To go in the hut, boots come off and these go on. Note EW's bread on the right.
View from the hut's WC.
Heading back down into the tree and shrub line we come across a classic example of alpine safety.
Crossing the hill in a rather steep and eroded part...
Chains have been strung along for safety and security. The bolt just above and to the left of my head has been reattached into the hillside after the first position fell away...
Continuing to descend.
We have to hurry at the end because the lift closes at 5PM and no one wants to make the additional 2 hour trek down.
Wonderful day.
More people in the boat, too.
pictures by G&E
Up next, the PARTY!
Onwards!
PS- NO ONE has yet claimed the tea towel?!!?
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