Tonight we are at a hostel above Champex-Lac. When I say above, I mean above by almost a 45 minute hike up after a long day, brutal, but worth it, it was so nice and comfortable. I somewhat kid about trekking, every day when you reach your destination, you always have to hike up the hill across town or up the mountain part ways to a remote hostel. Why I say somewhat kid is that it is the actual fact about 90% of the time you do end the day going up. I detest those times up after you already have 8 to 10 miles in the legs that want to do nothing but find a chair to get into. Most trekking trails and hiking trails always go up from a starting point, either from a village or or a hostel. After going up, if you are going to somewhere for lunch, then you descend to another village that is usually close to a river. Then after lunch, it is back up again and then down again to a place to lay your head for the night, with that final walk up at the other end of the village.
Hostel living is arriving between 3 and 4 in the afternoon. Finding a bed, finding where the showers and water closet are located. Then cleaning yourself up, maybe cleaning clothes if you have enough time, clothes have to dry by natural methods, no tumble dry on low. Then it is time to prop your feet up and relax, recuperate and enjoy the views.
Usually at 7pm it is dinner time, something very precious for two reasons, good food and good visits with new friends. I need to touch on what I mean by good food, the taste and preparation “might” be good, but usually it is a meal prepared for all in the hostel, so it usually wouldn’t be a considered “good” food, but after 10 or so miles, anything is absolutely a good meal! After dinner is usually time to just sit around and visit or right for this blog. Then, beautiful rest. Lights out are usually around 10, but I am gone by 9.
This evening during dinner, there was some discussion about God. One of my trekking mates turned to point out the window of our hostel and said, if you have any question, that view is proof of God”. That is the best description of what I have been blessed to be watching all day. It is beautiful here in the Swiss part of the Alps. Matter of fact, I told my guide today I needed to come up with a different description, I was using beautiful too much. The mountains we see are rugged, but stately, the valleys pristine and the high meadows wonderfully delightful. Every moment is a Kodak moment (If you don’t know what a Kodak moment is, ask someone over 40). Finally, the bells of Switzerland ( youtube ) ….ok, that was corny but fun, the bells are everywhere.
John 1:3