“Well, if these were the only days we were walking, the trip has been worthwhile already. Switzerland has been such a wonderful place to explore. After La Douay we began serious climbing. Mein host at the La Cartagena B&B was aghast that were attempting to walk all the way to the top of St Bernard Pass in one day — 30kms — because of the steep ascent. We took his advice and from Orsieres (902m altitude) Julie, Mark and I caught a bus to Bourg St Pierre (1,300m) while Bob walked from Orsieres . It was a beautifully clear day — wild flowers, cows, isolated cabins just like a set from Heidi. We took it very slowly — soaking feet in cold streams, talking to the cows, food breaks and huffing and puffing up the mountains. It took us 6 and a half hours. To our surprise Bob emerged up the mountain only half an hour after us..having walked twice as far!
Some highlights
Leaving La Douay
Arriving in Osières
Preparing for the journey
The long slow climb
Nearly at the top
At the top of St Bernard Pass are two main buildings. One of which is the hospice run by the monks, begun by St Bernard to assist stranded travellers. It is only accessible in summer and is fully snowed in in the winter months.
We were put in a dormitory and fortunately we were the only occupants. There were many visitors staying in a range of accommodation in the hospice. Lovely common meals in a large kitchen, where we met some interesting people. We attended a simple mass in the crypt. The service accompanied by guitar and flute. Fabulous history. In the museum there were relics of Hannibal, Julius Caesars armies, Napoleon (who feasted so long and hard it was only a few years ago that the French government repaid the bill) .
Common meal in the large friendly kitchen
There are also about twenty St Bernard dogs. They are not in use anymore for emergencies but kept for historical reasons. They have been at St Bernard Pass since the 1605 for the summer months but are housed in winter quarters down the mountain.”
M&M
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