We left our amazing gite (guesthouse) early to avoid the crowds and beat the heat. The ascent to Col. du Balme was beautiful with views of Mont Blanc and other glaciers along the way. We took a break at the pass and then headed to Refuge La Grande. There were a few snow fields along the way. Unfortunately one of our party slipped and sprained her ankle on one of the snow fields. She was a champ and hiked on. We helped wrap her ankle and took some of the weight from her pack and put it in our packs. We met a couple of guys on the trail that had found a huge crystal. Eventually we made it to the refugio (mountain hut) with views of two amazing glaciers - Trient and .Les Grande Luckily a medic was there and advised us to keep moving before the ankle seized up.
From there we headed down and almost took a wrong turn but Leah caught it and we were saved from being lost.
We eventually made it to the hotel walking along a fairly flat trail with a bisse along next to it. A bisse is a water diversion. We saw some historical signed showing how ice was carved off the Glacier and transported down the mountain in rail cars. Leah said that she didn't even like to empty ice trays to her ice much less having to carve it off a glacier.
The hotel is really crowded because the Tour du France is riding through tomorrow but we had reservations so all is good.
I am looking forward to a hearty meal after 12,5 miles and 4300 ft elevation gain carrying extra extra weight in my pack.
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