TMB Day 7: La Fouly to Champex Lac

• Distance: 9.32 miles (15km)

• Ascent: 1,627 feet (496m)

• Descent: 1,995 feet (608m)

• Highest point: 5,281 feet (1,610m)

What a lovely day. Probably the easiest, and shortest day on the trek, today was one that can in some ways be considered transitional, but also just a day where unlike most, we had the opportunity to walk through what can only be characterized as quintessentially Swiss alpine villages. Beautiful chalets, hundreds-year old barn houses just waiting to be renovated. I kept thinking these would make an excellent episode of HGTV’s Fixer Upper! 

There were raspberry patches and adorable chicken coops. I also made a new friend…or two…of the feline kind. And I’m not going to lie. I am already missing my own little felines. Silly Covid has made me unused to being away from home this long. And while I will be the first to admit I’m getting a bit tired of the pack and unpack routine every night, the whole process is made that much easier, not just by the tour company I’m traveling with, which has been impecable in terms of logistics, but also by our accommodations along the way. Luxury hotels these are not. The villages along the TMB are too small for that. They are however, quaint, friendly, comfortable spots to lay our heads down for a night…each one with a balcony more beautiful than the next. And that, is all I need.