August 31st
Near Col de Raus-Col du Razet
Daily Mileage: 23mi/37km
Approx Total Mileage: 388.4mi/625km
Campsite Elevation: 3386ft/1032m
It rained on and off through the night, so I was in and out of sleep all night. I was just glad the rain waited until the evening and it didn’t happen while I was walking. Everything was pretty dry with a nice breeze in the morning and the hiking was downright splendid.
It did make me think of the Pacific Crest Trail the way it cruised with such a gradual downhill and views of mountains distantly all around. I loved the overcast skies and cooler temps. This is my kind of hiking!
This would all be green earlier in the summer.
Wooded hiking when I dipped lower.
A tank from the 1940s.
Loving this!
In the big picture, I’m a week ahead of schedule, so time isn’t an issue. What I haven’t mentioned that’s fun and wonderful, is that this whole summer I’ve known that my friend E (who hiked the Great Divide Trail in 2015 and Kings Canyon High Basin Route in 2016 with me, and hosted me in NZ this past year) would be out here doing the Walker’s Haute Route through Switzerland ending in Chamonix (where I will start the Haute Route). We’ve been keeping tabs on one another and are trying to land in Chamonix the same day(s). Just the fatefulness that we both are out here and able to cross paths is awesome to me. I won’t go into detail, but logistically, it’s been a bit tough to nail it just right as we both had to wait out weather fronts to be sure of our dates. It wasn’t until today that we knew for sure. Now that it is last minute and a weekend, timing isn’t ideal with the remaining options for me on many fronts, but it’s still going to work out for me to get to Chamonix and spend time with E, yay!
I still haven’t decided exactly what I’ll do to get to Chamonix, but I spent over an hour tonight researching all the combinations and permutations for all involved because I also want to spend time in Menton (where I’ll finish tomorrow) and nearby Nice while also fitting E’s hoped schedule for her remaining days in France. Have I mentioned I hate planning??
So back to today. I got to Sospel before 4pm and grabbed a first dinner of a sandwich and four (yes I ate all four!) pudding cups.
Sospel
One last delightful village pit stop on the GR5.
I stopped at Col du Razet where the guidebook mentions a view of the Mediterranean. It’s a great spot for the final night! The view is obscured mostly by trees and bushes, but I can see Menton and the Mediterranean Sea! I’ll be there by lunch tomorrow!
So close!
Morning tent photo.
I hate planning too. And I only go for a week at a time (or less!). I understand. But you are a pro. I couldn’t even imagine all the planning you have to do. Mad skillz for sure!
You look happy. It’ll be cool for you to spend time with E!
Wait, are you heading to Chamonix Sept 1stish? You’re going to overlap with the UTMB folks!!
I’m so impressed you’re aware of that Katy! I won’t arrive until the end of the 3rd as it’s all winding down, so I may see some hobblers, haha.
LOL! It’s all everyone’s talking about right now!! 😀
I was one of those “hobblers” last year, finishing in about 45 hours.
Awesome! ??????
For someone who doesn’t like planning and logistics, you do very well.
The problem is that I have perfectionist tendencies, so if I’m going to do something, I may as well do it right!
I am always amazed how well you handle all the details.
I did a two month long road trip in the mid nineties and the planning (at home for bills, mail and my cat) and for on the road for packages of mail, route, meeting up with people I knew from snail mail lists, family, friends, two conferences..
This was before cell phones, wi-fi, internet. I had a calling card and the cat sitter and person who handled mail left messages on my answering machine. No ipod, just radio and CDs, no reader, but a stack of ? books.
But.. no VISA, no flights , all English, though with some interesting accents.
But just saying, I am In awe of all that you and others go through to plan out all the logistics.
And how wonderful that you met up with those you have met on other trails, in their own part of the world, and Nancy and Jim (who were in Chamonix in her last update), and now E!!
I always think it’s easier to do with internet, but I also realize the internet also opens the door to adding more stimuli and complicating things even more. Many just go with the flow not looking at anything ahead of time, but with my liking for efficiency (then I get to see and do even more!) and maximizing my enjoyment on the trail in good weather, the strategizing and planning pays off.
I liked having my maps and triptiks.. No gps..
And if course I was often able to modify routes along the way .
Even If you were less wired (or wi-fi’d) the use of Internet for planning your flights and such would be hard to ignore.
I see Why Not and Jim ,did the Mont Blanc at sunrise, after reading your description. Lots of runners there currently.
Yep, glad they did that:)
Shaping up to be a “perfect” ending!
Finally!;)