The snow started to lie on the road prior to arriving at Beaufort and by the time I reached Areches it was getting deeper and deeper. Thanks to the snow tyres I made it up the winding road.
With such heavy snow we were able to set out on foot from the hotel walking up through the narrow old alley ways to the start of the footpath. Here we got our snowshoes before following the deeply buried path up the side of the stream.
We gained height in snow up to 30 – 40 cm deep with it still falling incessantly. We reached the entrance to the hamlet of Boudin, a hamlet renowned for the architecture and the way it blends into the mountain landscape. The smell of hay and cattle wafted in the air and an old lady carrying her shopping passed below the large overhanging eves.
We spoke with a farmer who was busy clearing snow from the front of his house before moving slowly but steadily through the fields above passing by old barns. We reached the line of the small road that makes its way to the Col du Pre which was closed now until the spring thaw.
Finally we reached a deserted chalet and sheltered under its eves to eat our picnic lunch making use of the wooden bench alongside the wall. Firewood was all precisely stacked against all sides of the house.
The descent was enjoyable taking big strides down through snow now reaching to the knees even with the flotation from the snowshoes. Finally we regained Areches after an enjoyable and invigorating day.
