Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Today's route:

La Loza (2099 m) - Col de la Vallée Étroite (2434 m) - Les Granges de la la Vallée Étroite (1765 m) - Col des Thures (2194 m) - Roubion (1623 m)

By crossing the Col de la Vallée Étroite, we are already leaving Savoy and entering the Hautes-Alpes department. Today's hike takes a little longer than planned; so we are even more grateful to take a dip in the cold river La Clarée before setting up camp around 7 pm. The descents, totaling about 1,000 meters in altitude, are surprisingly not a problem for Ignaz; his right leg is doing well. Almost as if he were in top form... It would be great if it stayed that way.

The Vallée Étroite, which has only been part of France since 1947, is narrow in the truest sense of the word. Hordes of Italians - we estimate well over a thousand - populate the valley, mostly on a day trip from nearby Bardonecchia. Very "woke," we tolerate, sometimes endure, their foreign customs and manners, even though they confirm all the stereotypes we have of our southern neighbors. They chatter endlessly, but not quietly, unless it's a steep uphill, and you can hear them from afar, just like my cousin. And also very "woke," we avoid starting or singing Italian folk songs as non-Italians. (Our devout Marian and comrade from the East, whose real name is Beat Zumstein v/o Bezet, is also not allowed to fervently sing his beloved 'Bella Ciao' incorrectly.) At Lac Chavillon near the Col des Thures, where many day trippers also gather, we observe a young Indian couple communicating with their two young children as if they were puppies. Once again, very "woke," we refrain from judging or interfering, but simply find it interesting. -We hope to come across other interesting diversity situations on our further hike.