Wednesday 10 July
18km – 1870m ascent – 1225m descent

There is only one way to describe today, uphill. I exaggerate not! I’m sure on many occasions I was an inch from death; be it from starvation, fear of being attacked by the local vegetation or mammals (cows, goats, marmots ect.). On the starvation front, where the parents were convinced there would be a place to buy food for lunch, well let’s just say we arrived to find two locked chalets and one abandoned hut, which housed a canoe. I know what you may be thinking but no, at the height of hunger, I did not eat a canoe. Our snacklets were rationed out and we all had apples and nuts – wonderful. Overall the ascent was truly joyous. I lie. I mean one would think 6000ft of ascent (1 and a half Ben Nevis), carrying 24lbs was destined to be seriously fun, but it may shock you to discover, it really wasn’t as great as the parents let on. The downwards was equally joyous – yay for beaten feet! And yet we made it. Over dinner, mother also let on that according to the guide book “Only those who arrive fit and seasoned for a mountain walk are likely to cover the distance comfortably from St Gingolph to La Chapelle d’Abondance in a day” – did I do minimal exercise in the lead up to this walk? Yes. Was my first day experience comfortable? No. Nevertheless, we shall continue, onwards and upwards!