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We woke to a beautiful
blue sky without a single cloud and after breakfast we had some
items to buy. Bill had lost his trainers which he was carrying for
hut use and we needed a short rope. Also Bill again had forgotten
to put the insoles into his boots - replacements had to be found.
There is a good sports shop called Look on the main street, where
we were able to buy a 20 metre rope suitable for glacier travel,
got some boot insoles and flip flops. Our excess gear was left at
the hotel, to be picked up next week and we awaited the bus to go
down to Orsierres (SFr7.40 each). At Orsierres we got another bus
to Bourg St Pierre (SFr9 each). We arrived there at 12am. The village
was very quiet as everywhere had just shut for lunch. From the top
end of the village we picked up the signs for the Valsorey Hut (4½
hrs) following it gently through fields and pasture. It was a lovely
walk and we eventually reached the Chalet d'Amont where a herd of
cows grazed lower   down
on the flat river bed. As we climbed we reached the small gully,
which contains the ladders and chains to simplify the climb. Above,
we began to meet some people descending from the hut and as we reached
the small, flat area before the final climb, we took a few minutes
to rest, look around and have a drink. Across the valley was the
Velan Hut, and the mountain scenery surrounding us was superb. We
could see the distant route of tomorrow's climb to the Plateau du
Couloir, but the hut itself was at the end of a 300m climb. Above
all, the Grand Combin was hidden from view.  On the climb up the path to
the hut, Bill began to show his speed uphill as he soon pulled away.
I decided there was no need to rush and rested whenever I felt it
necessary. Anyway it gave Bill the time to set up his video shots
of me approaching the hut, but I couldn't be too slow as there was
a party of three in front of me including one lady, well into her
seventies and I couldn't arrive after her!
It was great to get to the hut. Bill suggested a beer. Er! Were
such things allowed? I thought they weren't. Wasn't the cost just
too great? Well, Bill had the cash, so we had a beer at SFr4.50
a can. (Coke can size) We sat on the 'verandah' supping beer,   relaxing
in the afternoon sunshine, feeling good after the walk up in guide
time. After the beer we had a walk up the path behind the hut, following
the cairns to the snow, trying to suss the route to take in the
morning. There were only nine people staying in the hut that night
and we all shared one table for our evening meal. One couple were
just staying the night and then going down, The party of three women
(mother, daughter and guide) had been planning 
to visit the Velan Hut the following night, but it looked as if
it would be a bit too much for the mother and they too would descend
in the morning (it was a superb achievement for her to reach the
hut and she was well pleased). The other two were a guide and client,
up to climb the Grand Combin. The food was excellent, loads of soup,
pork steaks with pollenta and green beans, and tinned peach and
pear to finish. Plenty of water came from the fountain outside.
As we were to leave early, we paid our bill which came to SwFr102,
plus SwFr9 for the two beers.
Later the guardian called everyone outside as he had spotted a small
group of chamois about two hundred yards away from the hut. But
the temperature was dropping rapidly and after the warmth of the
sun earlier, I soon found it freezing (I'm sure not literally) outside.
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