TOUR DU MONT BLANC - 2007 - DAY 6

 JUNE 9

This morning we regain a view of the summit of Mont Blanc. It's snowy peak towers almost 3.5 kilometers above the Val Ferret.

Hiking to Col Sapin we stop to admire the north face of Grandes Jorasses (4,208m) on the other side of Val Ferrat.

                                             Grassy slopes are crossed by cattle trails. Summer hut waits for the arrival of shepherds.

Alpine anemones show their furry flowers.

Col Sapin (2,436m) is a wide snowy saddle which offers a view on the intersection of Val Ferret and Val Veny. Town of Courmayeur, our goal for today, is located at the bottom of the black triangular peak. It is not visible form the Col

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Courmayeur is visible from the summit of Tete Bernarda, which we reach after a short climb.

Across Val Ferret, the Giant of the Alps sticks out his tooth (Dent de Geant 4,013m), while Glacier de la Brenva slowly descends from the summit of Mont Blanc.

We stop at Refuge Bertone (1,991m) to check the Italian end of the famous Mont Blanc Tunnel.

It is late afternoon and we are very tired. Courmayeur stretches right under our feet as we descend through a magnificent larch forest.

Finally we arrive at the Hotel Berthod. Tomorrow is a day of rest. Freddy agrees to delay the breakfast until 8:00. After breakfast we will become regular tourists. In the program: sightseeing of the town and a ride to the top of Alps.

Another bottle of fruity Italian wine (actually two because I decide to join the party) and an extra large platter of super stinky Italian cheese. Live is beautiful. Late... very late we retire to our room.