TMB Day 6: Arp Nouvaz to La Fouly
Skipping One Stage, Directly to Switzerland
September 7, 2020
TMB Stage 6 Anti-Clockwise
Map
After a light but delicious breakfast at the hotel, we checked out and set out to catch the free shuttle bus that will bring us further up the valley.
Because we had to skip one stage, we decided to start as close to the initially planned refuge (Rifugio Bonatti, for the famous mountain climber) as possible. The bus brought us to Arp Nouvaz, located in the Val Ferret, approximately at the same level as Rifugio Bonatti, but closer to the valley talweg.
From there, we started the climb to the Grand Col Ferret, which we reached less than two hours later.
As you go round the Mont Blanc massif, you will notice the glaciers. They’re all super impressive, in particular, once you realize how much they’ve melted. Sad face. You might have read that historically, snow would be “eternal” around the massif from 2500 m. Today, that’s far from the case. Thank you, global warming, not.
Once at the top, in Grand Col Ferret, you’re at the Italian-Swiss border. Going down, it’s still the Val Ferret, albeit the Swiss one. The wild and raw scenery from the Italian Val Ferret is replaced by the tranquil, well-tended, and occupied Swiss slopes.
You’ll pass many alpine pastures until you finally reach the tiny village of La Peule. From there, it’s a peaceful walk alongside the Dranse de Ferret waterway. Notice the artfully shaped rocks on its banks.
We reached our inn in La Fouly after four and a half-hour. After enjoying some local apple juice, under the disappearing rays of the sun, we ate a typical valaisan raclette.
