Champex Lac to Trient

Day 12 – Champex Lac (1470 meters or 4822 feet) to Trient (1290 meters or 4234 feet) : 16.76 km

This was a hard day of mountain trail and climbing. 

We started to walk along the lake then on or along the asphalt roads on our way out of town. In the land of the St Bernard the only one we saw was painted on the side of a bus leaving Champex Lac. 

We walked through some pleasant Alpine meadows. Then we started to ascend into the woods. The trail climbs steeply for what we felt like a very long time. Eventually, we finished the climbing and made it to the Alp Bovine. A highlight was the refuge in a dairy farm at the top of one long hill overlooking the valley. 

It was named Refuge and farm Bovine and it lived up to it’s name – cows all around. For some reason they think they need to put a bell on each cow – a big bell with a wide leather collar. The past 3 days we have rarely been where we didn’t hear bong, bong. The cattle breeds are generally different than in the US.

After we left the refuge we had some further ascent with spectacular views and then mostly downhill woodland walk started. 

At one location there was a big block of stone with a good sized tree growing out of it – doubt many roots penetrated that rock. Shortly afterward we saw an old cattle trough made of hollowed out logs.

Finally Trient appeared down below.

As we descended into the village we saw a beautiful pedestrian flyover. People coming down the hill seem to drive a bit like maniacs so it was appreciated.

Just as we arrived at the hotel it began to rain. We had a private room in this hotel/dorm but bathrooms were common. Room was very comfortable and common bathrooms are very clean and spacious. It was a very good stay. (http://www.la-grande-ourse.ch)