30-07-2016 Haute Route Day 6
Cabane de Prafleuri to Arolla
17.8 Kilometers
Lodging: Hotel Aiguille de la Tza 100 Suisse Franc for a double room, shared bathroom, and breakfast. We stayed 2 nights.
Click on the link above and download it to your computer. Then, open Google Earth and manually open and you can see the trail in 3D.
Cabane de Prafleuri to Arolla
We left Cabana de Prafleuri at 6:05am after accidentally waking up our roommates and eating a quick breakfast. We slept in a 7 person dorm with a couple from Boston with their 11 year old son whom we first met at Cabana du Mont Fort. Katherine awoke 10 minutes before our alarm was set to go off and gave it to me. When it rang I thought I turned it off and left the room to go downstairs and clean up. What I did not know is that I left the alarm on. It went off, and only Thomas was still in the room, but the other group of 3 from Boston were still sleeping. Oops! Thomas finally woke up, not from the alarm that had been going off for 10 minutes, but from our roommate searching for the source of the sound. Thomas finally turned it off and we got the heck out of Dodge. I don’t think we made any friends this morning. Sorry Boston friends!
Our trek today took us up to Col des Roux and over the ladders of Pas de Chevre. It was a long demanding hike with a short, steep col crossing right out of the cabin area. The second pass has had Katherine nervous for a few weeks. It previously had a serious of four ladders up a vertical rock face that look pretty scary in photos, but was the better, easier option than the very loose natural col. We heard that there are now 2 new ladders connected with platforms that were completed in 2014. I guess we will see what’s up there since we have no option but to cross over the saddle one way or another.
We passed the first col 20 minutes after leaving the hut. As we crossed over and saw lake Dix, and we heard the high-pitched chirp of some ibex. They sound a lot like birds, but very loud. We were caught between a mother and her baby. I thought this might be a bad idea, so we kept moving quickly past so as not to spook the mother. I did not want to find out how useful those horns are.
Lac des Dix
A stern looking ibex!
As the trail took us around an artificial lake we ran into many fighting cows. Their bells were creating quite a racket and some squared off to us in the trail. There was a Japanese couple on the trail with us for a while that asked us to take their photo. I think they were some of the “wild campers” we saw in the distance. The rule in Switzerland is that wild camping is illegal, but we saw a few tents out in the early morning. If you get up early and pack up the tent you can evade capture!
At the south end of the lake we saw the exit of the water from the hydroelectric facility. The glacial melt from the surrounding area created a giant rush of water. It was an awesome sight.
Our little marmot friend. These guys were all over the trails in the mornings.
We slowly made our way across a barren area and up to a little platform. Then the slug began. The trail suddenly got difficult to read and the pitch greatly steepened. We were almost to the pass, but first had a 50 meter class 3 scramble. The Danish couple in front of us kicked down a few rocks and was having a rough time, even letting out some “yelps” as their footing slipped. Earlier in the day, we could see the new ladders and platforms through our binoculars. They looked much less scary than the old ladders. We thought, “We’ve got this.” Anne and Thomas were in front of us and made it to the top without a problem. Ss we approached the ladders, Thomas came down without his pack to kindly help Katherine with hers. We were lucky, the ladders steel was super secure, not wet, and not cold. That was ideal.
On the top… we got our first glimpse of the Matterhorn, many miles in the distance.
The top of a difficult col is a place to talk, eat, and celebrate!
Descending, we got a little special treat: our first edelweiss! After many days of strict attention to the flora, it finally paid off.
Not my photo, but this is what a single edelweiss looks like.
The drop in elevation to the village of Arolla was a lot of work on our knees. We briefly stopped in a ski resort area for a chance to rest and relax. Thomas and Anne went straight for the tarts again, which they claim is not dessert, but a meal in it’s own! I rested in my favorite Coca-Cola lounger as the USA guided crew came careening down the switchbacks.
Notice the slate roofs. They were everywhere and last very, very long.
We then packed up our gear, righted ourselves, and went to the village in search of the hotel. Thomas had a reservation, and we accidentally went to the incorrect address of the hotel’s second location. Oops. This meant a little more backtracking and asking a few questions. We were beat, and needed food replenishments. After loading up from the local market, our hotel was reached and we rested again, cleaned up, and made our way to dinner. Anne decided that this was the night for fondue. It’s typically a winter meal, but while in Switzerland as a tourist, it was go time! Plus, the temperatures outside were about the typical Las Vegas winter time temperatures. After a tasty meal we barely made it back to our rooms before falling asleep.
Anne greeting us as the rain came down.
Tomorrow will be a rest day to do some laundry and enjoy the mountains… from our porch!
Katherine and Thomas working out logistics for the upcoming days.
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