7/4 Stage 8: Rifugio Bonatti – Grand Col Ferret – La Fouly
7/4 We left Rifugio Bonatti at 7:30a and walked back up the trail to just below the Malatra alp huts and then turned left onto a trail that traversed the grassy boulder strewn hillside and across three or four small streams before reaching several derelict stone buildings a short distance above Arnuva. From there the trail descended down to the car park at Arnuva (1769m – 5804ft) (9:00a). Here we stopped for a short rest before continuing. Beyond Arnuva we followed the gravel road up to the Rifugio Elena (2062m – 6765ft) (9:45a – 10:15a). The rifugio has been built into the hillside for protection against avalanches which claimed the previous hut in the 1950s. From the hut we could look across the valley onto the Glacier de Pre de Bar, which sweeps down from Mount Dolent.
After a short stop at Refugio Elena we continued on up the trail. Two cols Ferret cross the border into Switzerland above and north of the Elena hut. It is the southernmost, and higher of the two, that we would cross. Behind the hut the path rose steeply and passed a gorge of black schist, then in a series of switchbacks took us higher near the ridge crest before turning left and climbing steeply toward the pass. We arrived at the Grand Col Ferret (2537m – 8323ft) at 11:15a. Here we had lunch and enjoyed one of the best views of the trip. From the Col de la Signe, now three and half days behind, down into the Swiss Val Ferret. We descended over open slopes with numerous snow patches down to the summer dairy farm of La Peulla (2071m – 6795ft) (12:45p).
From here we followed a farm track down into the Val Ferret and the little hamlet of Ferret (1705m – 5594ft). From here Katherine and I followed a path down the left side of the stream eventually coming back to a paved road that led on into the town of La Fouly (1610m – 5282ft) (2:45p). Al caught up with us about a half hour later and we enjoyed beer and schnitzel on the patio of our hotel while being entertained by a bad piano player/singer.
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- On the trail from the Rifugio Bonatti to Arnuva
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- Stone building just above Arnuva
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- Katherine above the Rifugio Elena on the way the Grand Col Ferret
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- Trail leading to the Grand Col Ferret
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- At the Grand Col Ferret (Swiss border)
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- Coming down from the Grand Col Ferret towards La Peula
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