Day 7: La Fouly to Champex (July 25)
16.3 km, 464.4 m ascent, 560.2 m descent
This stage is the easiest of the TMB, but for some reason lots of people skip it and take the bus. That’s a shame, because it’s such a pretty walk through Swiss Valais, land of precisely stacked woodpiles!
The day started drizzly again.
We took it easy today, stopping first for coffee and then for lunch in the town of Issert. This part of Valais is distinguished by several villages that are historic, or UNESCO world heritage sites or something – anyway, they contain a bunch of old, wooden houses and massive woodpiles.
We concluded the days walk with a stiff climb through the woods up to the town of Champex. It was a pleasure to revisit the realm of regional spokesanimal Charlotte la Marmotte with her passion for mycology and to try another hotel in Champex-Lac, the lovely Hotel Alpina with its friendly owners and excellent cuisine, though we are still fond of the Hotel Splendide next door.
