AR Explorer: TMB - Day 4 (Rifugio Elisabetta to Courmayeur)

On our way down to Lac De Combal from Rifugio Elisabetta

After a sleepless night, we decided to just leave early so we can have more time in Courmayeur. From the rifugio, we descended to Lac de Combal and it was a beautiful hike between two lakes with the magnificent view of Glacier du Miage to our left.

From the lake, we then climbed for about 3000 feet for a magnificent hike high above Val Veni. Since we started early on the hiking season, we have encountered avalanches and some of the rivers were still dangerous to traverse because of the glacial melt. On this day, we had to cross a raging river where the freezing water was high enough that we had to remove our boots and fold our pants up so as not to get wet. It was scary but very exciting.

And just when I thought the view can never get better after yesterday's hike, we had an unobstructed view of the Mont Blanc Massif for miles as the weather was again amazing on our third day!

After the easy and glorious hike, we then headed to Maison Vieille for lunch. We ate pizza and pasta (we were in Italy, after all) with our friends from the trail. We also met a Japanese guy who is an experienced hiker with amazing stories of his hike around the world. I went to grad school in Tokyo where I met my husband who also went to school there. We haven't been back since we left Tokyo six years ago so it was nice to speak Japanese again. We spent an hour chatting and eating which, unknowingly, was a great idea as things started to go downhill literally and figuratively from here.

From Maison Vieille, the route to Courmayeur was steep and never ending. It was also the middle of the afternoon so it was hot and humid. With over 25 lbs on my back and the steep zigzags, I thought I was going to break my knee. Thankfully, I didn't, but a couple of people that we met in the trail got injured on this day so this was a really tough day! I cannot imagine enjoying this hike had we taken it in July or August. For those who plan to do it on those months, just take the chairlift and save your knees!

It took us 8 hours to finish this part of the trek and we were tired, dusty and sweaty by the time we reached our destination. It was nice to stay in a hotel after camping on day 2 and staying in a crowded rifugio on day 3. We even had our clothes washed and folded for just 14 euros! We rested for about an hour, took a really hot bath and off we went to their "main street" for some gelati followed by the best Italian dinner you can find in the trail at Ristorante La Tirrazza, again with our friends from the trail.