Hiking the TMB with Deb and Jeff: Day 6 Bonatti to La Fouly

Goodbye Italy, hello Switzerland!

Day 6 Rifugio Bonatti to La Fouly

As I sit here in in my quiet room, with a private bath (woot) listening to the river raging by, I'm marveling at yet another fabulous day! Looking up from our window in our little Swiss hotel I can see the glacier covered alps and reflect on our long but wonderful day hiking into Switzerland from Italy.

Today started with a quick and less than adequate breakfast. Although Bonatti was a great room and location, their meals were disappointing. Since we knew that our day would be strenuous and challenging, we didn't spend much time lamenting over the lackluster breakfast. We packed up and headed out before 8am. We started with a nice walk out of the Refugio and began to descend to the valley floor about 1000 ft below. Once we walked to the valley, through beautiful wildflower filled meadows, we immediately began our climb up to Refugio Elena, which is another 1100 ft incline within a few kilometers. Elena was a beautiful stop for a quick snack and some water, and then up we go again another 1500 ft to the Fran Col Ferret.

Once we reached the Col, we could see all of the Italian Val Ferret from where we had come, over into the Swiss valley where we were headed, and all the way back to France from where we had been three days earlier! Spectacular!!!

We had lunch in a meadow just below the Col, and then got ready for our walk into Switzerland and the valley 2000 ft below. After 2 1/2 hours of downhill ( many times quite steep), we walked into the Swiss village of La Fouly. We arrived at our hotel, Edelweiss, and were thrilled to find our room with a view of the glaciers and mountains, as well as a raging river below us. Best part is our own bathroom and shower! No tokens needed, and no limit on how much time we can spend in the hot water! Simple luxuries.