Into the mountains again

The next target is Albertville. The easy way from Chambéry would be to follow the valley down and round - along with the autoroute, the railway etc. I decide instead to go through the mountains, the Massif des Bauges, shown in this map. It will need three days, with a stop at Aillon-le-Jeune - where I am the only person in the little self-service walkers' hostel run by the commune - and then somewhere near Jarsy beneath the stars (everything is booked on the first weekend of the main French holiday season).

The view down to Chambéry late morning.  

I've forgotten what it is like to climb 1200 or so metres with a full rucksack, loaded with food - 20 miles a day in the plains with 35 degrees suddenly seems easy by comparison! Lungs are gasping.. But at last I make it to the col and this is the view back, the heat haze having built in the time taken to get here. As ever, the endorphins kick in with the view and it all seems worth the effort. And the cool mountain air is beautifully refreshing. 

And then down to Aillon-le-Jeune.