Haute Route, Day 2. We started hiking before dawn, roped up, put on crampons, and took out our ice axes for the first day of glacier climbing. We climbed up to the pass of Le Tour, 10,768 feet, on the
Swiss border. Heather was freaked by the climb and rock scramble up to the pass. Great views of the glacier of Trient, the " Aiguilles Dorées
", and all the summits of the Swiss Valais, including the Matterhorn. After the pass, we crossed over the Trient plateau to Orny pass, 10,164
feet, and Orny hut.
Had our first taste of Croute d'ouef et fromage (basically oil-dipped toasted bread covered with cheese and two eggs ... wow!). Followed the trail across Orny and took the Breya chairlift, 7,178 feet, down to Champex
village, 4,724 feet. From there, we shipped some stuff on to Zermatt because we had all overpacked and were burdened like pack mules! Took a mini-bus to the Chanrion hut, 8,077 feet,
right in Valais mountains. Had a terrifying ride that made me car sick. 
Approx 6 hours of hiking, Length
: 10 miles. Difference of elevation: 1,902 feet up, 3,596 feet down.
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