7.07.2012

hiking: col de portette (2128m)


Today's hike is brought to you by the letter H. Before starting the trail in Haute-Savoie from Lintre to Col de Portette (2128m), we saw hot air balloons returning from a sunrise ride. 


Just about an hour into our morning on the trail, we stopped for a cafe at a refuge a few minutes detour, and enjoyed the sunshine. Back to the trail and our 9 hour hike through fields of every-colored wild flower and happily grazing vaches, climbing the occasional boulder. The views again are spectacular, and we are so lucky to have such lovely weather these summer Saturdays. Overall, the trail was a good mix of terrain, woods, pasture, steep stone trail, stream passes, exposed rock, and a fairly flat finish.    


After some good rock-hopping, we reached La Chombas (1956m) for a hill-top snack stop with the sheep. From here we followed the H markings to the Combe des Fours, the hight of the hike at Col de Portette, and back down towards more vaches at the Chalets de Coeur.


Looping back, I had filled the memory card in my camera with about 400 pictures for the day. I guess I was a bit shutter happy, but the scenery...well I couldn't resist.