We met Moira and John at 10:30 a.m. after a lie-in and a good night's sleep (honest I did not wake Duncan by shouting in the night). Moira drove us round the valleys to Lac du Mauvoisin up some narrow and bendy roads. John gave a commentary on the local mountains as we progressed. We crossed the dam at the end of the lake where there were a number of pictures of local hunters with their catches of ibex. John informed us that people were known to base jump off the dam - quite an experience! We walked alongside the lake and then began to head upwards in to flower filled territory where we saw a number of alpine flowers including some Edelweiss (from the German noble white). The path levelled off and we contoured around above Lac du Mauvoisin.
We ascended past a beautiful lake to the Col de Tsofeiret where John discussed the options for the next day. The Cabane du Vignettes was full when he called to book so we were staying in the Cabane du Dix on the following night. It was likely that we would cross three high mountain passes, the first of which we could see. However John would ask the guardian of the hut about the current conditions. John explained to us that it is always worth asking the guardians about routes since conditions change from one year to the next and the guardians always have up to date information. We made it to the hut (which was extremely busy) by 5:00 p.m. as cloud started to roll in over some of the summits. We saw some marmots in the fields around the hut, and heard a few more. There was a little rain in the evening, but by the next morning the skies were clear again.
Duncan, Helen, Francoise, and Andy in front of the Tournelon Blanc
