Thursday 6 August - In the mountains aiming for Refuge Adele Plonchard

We breakfasted keenly on lovely fresh croissants and still warm bread then readied ourselves for the adventure. This meant packing overnight and mountain kit (such as we had), sorting our packed lunch and securing bikes, golf clubs and the van before departure. At 9.25am we set off having taken pleasure in seeing the young French girls fussing around and perhaps even annoying their tethered donkey - but they looked a picture. The day was perfect with the mountain ridges and peaks showing sharply against the very blue sky. We walked well and made good progress along the same trail we had followed two days before, enjoying the whole walking scene and chatting amiably to those we overtook and to the one or two that went past us. The most amazing was an old gentlemen who could give us at least 20 years making slow but steady progress up the valley. We were suitably impressed.

We made the same point that we had made two days earlier after about 2.5 hours and took our lunch overlooking the moraine again. From here, the track turned sharply right and up the steep slope. Having climbed pretty smartly and achieved good altitude, M1 made the obvious error of the commentator's curse saying that 'if the trail stays like this, it should be OK'. Of course - it didn't! Within a short time the track gave way to solid rock and a 'via ferrate' type rail to pull ourselves up. This we managed prettily easily although it sewed seeds of doubt about the reast of the trail of which there was still probably 600m of altitude gain needed. Shortly after the assisted rock climb, the way was only shown by some red paint and some reasonably seriously steep rock. M2 had a go but even he was apprehensive about moving up or down. So - a rapid case conference and a decision that we were neither equipped or fitted to move into the unknown at more than 2500m and the retreat began but with great disappointment at not achieving our goal. For sure, it was the only and right decision for M1 despite our high ambitions. We set off down again with hearts slightly low. But we were uplifted enormously when, about 300m lower, the same octogenarian gentleman we had seen earlier was still making his way upwards to get the photo he wanted! Would we all had his stamina and resolve.

The descent was quiet but again we came across many ramblers of vastly different ages doing their thing - up and down. Our beer at the end of the 6 hour walk was most welcome and assuaged our disappointment somewhat. But we would have liked to have done better - if that rock face at which we had abandoned had had 'via ferrate' assistance, we would surely have gone on. Supper in the refuge Du Pas de l'Ane withe the excellent famille Fons - Olivier and Laurence, their two lads Guillaume and Gilles and his Slovak girl friend Mirka was again on the cards.