TRAIL: TOUR DU MONT BLANC – DAY 8

DAY EIGHT – July 10

Up and down on the Bovine trail from Champex to Trient, through forests, across streams and cow pastures – an unexpected day all about food.

The morning air was already warm. The dew was evaporating right before our eyes. It was really cool to see the mist rise from the fields. It was going to be a lovely day.

Our host at La Grange recommended we take the Bovine Trail and not the Fenetre d’Arpette trail. Just the day before a hiker fell and hit her head on the descent on the Fenetre trail.

As we were here for fun and not a life-risking adventure, we opted for the Bovine route. And, let’s be honest, already people think hiking this trail is pretty crazy so we didn’t want to convince them that we were certifiable.

Yet, don’t be fooled and think the Bovine trail is an easy route. I thought it was still very hard and had loads of ascents up rocky trails.
I’m getting a bit ahead of myself though.

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After a lovely breakfast with good coffee we said goodbye to our lovely host and headed back out on the trail (not before checking in on the British Army across the street when we may have bragged about mentioned how great we slept).
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It was quite beautiful as the trail meandered gently past small farms with yards of goats. Naturally we had to stop and say hello, or rather Bonjour!

The map said there was a cafe up ahead at Plan de L’Au. We weren’t really hungry having had a great breakfast just an hour ago but we didn’t stock up on snacks the day before (we may have been distracted by beer, fondue and learning how to read a compass) so we thought we should stop.
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Unfortunately for us we were too early for any food but they did have good strong coffee that came with a view that was just okay I guess, if you like views of valleys and mountains.

​We got back on the trail now that we were sufficiently caffeinated.  The trail started to rise steadily and would continue to rise for the next 800 meters over the next two hours to Alp Bovine.

As the trail ascends we came to a couple of stream crossings. These could be challenging after a heavy rainfall. Thankfully it hadn’t rained for a few days. But, remember my tip about the waterproof boots?

Here are two reasons why they are a must-have:

After what felt like an endless ascent, we emerged above the tree line, heard the sound of cow bells and found ourselves in a cattle pasture – perhaps this is where the name of the trail comes from? Seems so obvious doesn’t it

Had I read the guide book the day before as I usually do I would’ve read that there’s a little cafe at the family-run Alp Bovine. Bonus! Because I wasn’t really looking forward to a lunch of week old peanuts and a granola bar.

​Seated at a picnic table under big umbrellas was a little slice of heaven!

​The menu is very small but that’s because the kitchen is too. It’s a little beehive of activity but what you can order and should order is an omelette, which we did (they are huge, you could probably share one unless you are ravenous, which you probably will be having just hiked 800 meters uphill).

Back in the forest again. Every once in a while you could get a glimpse of the Rhone Valley to the east through the trees. It was a forest that could be any forest – it reminded me so much of the evergreen forests on the west coast of British Columbia, but it was beautiful and it was in Switzerland.

​After a quick stop in Col de la Forclaz to buy snacks (very small shop), we headed to Trient – our final destination for the day. I think the section between Col de la Forclaz and Trient has recently been redone. My map and the trail in front of us were two different things.
Instead of taking the road into Trient, the trail hugged the mountain side – literally, via this mild panic attack inducing bridge:

Trient was in view and yet it still seems so far away, and by that I mean so far down the mountain. There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot in Trient except an adorable pink church and auberges for hikers.
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Our accommodation was the Auberge Mont Blanc. It might look a little dilapidated from the outside but the room was clean and the service was good.

I ordered the fondue for dinner. It was a tomato & cheese fondue with potatoes for dipping. I was told that this was the fondue specialty of the region. Two fondues in two days! I quite like Switzerland.
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Next: Day 9
Go back: ​ Day 7