After some farewells to the three musketeers we were off heading out of town- via the bolangerie of course! At our marker path we found some protected footprints in the cement – a bit of a mystery.

It was a tough haul up the hill his morning. We were definitely missing the three musketeers but it seemed more than that. We found one of the Americans wavering as we ventured up – Steve, he asked to follow for a while but then fell back and eventually turned back conceding he wouldn’t make it. It was a tough morning uphill and we knew turning back was as equally tough!

The point of the the footprints emerged – the Zinal mountain marathon – another one I’d failed to register for!

Karyn had advised that her trusty device was indicating 50% chance of rain In the after noon. Shouldn’t bother au I thought.

Turned out Karyn’s melancholy mood was somewhat related to Rod – she was missing the opportunity to whinge the way up! Of course I said whinge away, opening the way for me to whinge!

We reached the sign to Forcletta but it was under repair – thankfully the parks personnel were around so they pointed us in the right direction.

The morning had been tough before the Col de Forcletta (2874m) so we made the decision at that time to bypass the Europa hut. Our spirits seemed to lift immeasurably from this decision with us both of us finding the col relatively easy.

Ok, we got rain! Not enough to warrant wet pants for me but enough to be annoying – needless to say it was a brief lunch stop with the breeze and rain at Chalte Berg.

It was quite something to be hiking at he same height as the snow on the slopes.

After our final descent we dropped into a dairy – with still great views of the glacier.

We made our way through the pastures to reach the Schwarzhorn hotel – it seemed like the Grand Budapest Hotel until we saw our dorm room! This place was definitively channelling Bill Murray with a great bar and restaurant. Unfortunately the dorm rooms left a lot to be desired – the Childers backpacker fire kept popping into my head! Definitely a business opportunity here!

The journey to Gruben leading us through a tunnel.

Yeh – I was ready for the Zinal mountain challenge!

Karyn channelling a bit of energy from our Zontian friends.

Six schmix km!

Nothing like arriving at a col and not seeing anything!!!

Gruben in sight.