Day 9 Cabane Prafleuri
to Les Haudères
Restless night, 18 packed into the dorm. Facilities,
although indoors, were cramped and very communal! More Chamois
came to the salt lick before breakfast. Off at 7.15 up the Col
de Roux. Good views including Chamois on the hill. The meadows
along Lac Dix were everything a Swiss Alpine meadow should be;
brilliant sunshine, a blue sky, lots of butterflies and wild flowers
with a blue lake, glaciers and mountains in the background. We
walked past a farm converted into a hut, round the lake to the
hydro-waterfall at the end. Then a hard climb up to a grassy lunch
spot with views of the Dix hut, the remains of the Mt Blanc de
Cheilon glacier, Mt Blanc de Cheilon and Le Pleureur. An even
harder climb to the Col du Reidmatten, steep and lots of scree
but the view of the Matterhorn and Dent Blanche made it worth
the effort. Good views on the way down of the Pigne d'Arolla and
the icefall at the bottom of the western glacier. A long walk
down to Arolla which turned out to be quite a climbing centre.
Beer and ice cream before getting the Post bus down the valley
to the campsite below Les Haudères. It was full of Dutch
families who were slightly bemused by our arrival. Very hot; cold
beer most welcome. Bruce's hors-d'oeuvres appeared for the first
time. Sixto was very passionate about Rioca and Jonathan Swift!! |
Exodus Trip Notes
Day 9 This is a longer day starting with a short
climb to cross the Col de Roux (2,804 m.). We descend across large
boulders to Lac Dix (2,364 m.) and walk around its shoreline before
climbing again above the glacier Dix, through meadows, which during
the summer are quite often filled with edelweiss, to make a steep
ascent on loose scree to the Col du Reidmatten (2,919 m.). Finally,
a long descent brings us to the small and charming village of
Arolla (1,998 m.), from where we catch a bus to Les Haudères
(1,436m). Here we rejoin the support vehicle.
Campsite near Les Haudères.
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