Day 15, Wednesday, August 24
Val d’Isère to Bessans
Today we crossed the Col de l’Iseran at 2770m (9088ft), the highest pass on the walk. We are tired after a long day, but it was not as difficult as we expected. We seem to be getting stronger and adapting to the altitude.
Good views of very big glaciers today, some in Italy, and scenic walking once we got away from the ski development that goes all the way up to the col. Sunny again.
Inge’s toe is giving less pain.
This part of the walk, between the Col du Palet which we crossed yesterday and Modane which we will go through on Friday, offers four choices of route which interconnect and give options for length and difficulty. After crossing the pass we joined the GR5E which drops to a river valley at 1800m for a few days of flat walking along the river. A change to be in a valley with limited views and early darkness. Tonight we are in a gîte in a town. A group of artists is staying here for a landscape painting workshop. Different dynamic from a mountain refuge, but fun to watch. Such a bunch of characters.
Roy