Grand St. Bernard Hospis, Switzerland

Time for a change of venue ..  and hopefully a lessening of the wind.

I had booked us into the twin of the Simplon hospis .. the Grand St. Bernard Hospis - up on the pass.

In addition this was only a half day route on well used paths, allowing us to travel and also walk up to the hospis.

In addition we could stop at a shop in Orsiers and get Bryon some new boots. The shop owner was very patient and extremely knowledgeable, and even gave up some of his lunch break to make sure Bryon had some thermo formed boots that fit right. Cristal sports. Bryon was noticeable reticent about getting new boots having been blister free for many years in his old Dynafit's .. however the shop owner was exceedingly patient and persuaded him to part with some hard earned cash!

The snow was only just clinging on to the road at teh start, and they woudl begin cleaing it next week.
The route to the col is well trodden and we have completed it a number of times ...   so first pause at Les Hospitalet - the first ventilation tower for the tunnel ... not much height gain for this stage.

Through the "gorge" section (only because it is narrower then the rest of the route). to the second land mark ...  the second ventiation tower, but also the "shack" with the St Bernard message for travellers on it.

The next section is along the bottom of the upper valley section.  steeper than you think, but also very wide...

The final step section up to the hospis... and the last bump to the road.

Very icy here from all the traffic, and after a look around to see what had changed we went in to register.

First the boot room ...  downstairs, tight and fraught as large parties of people pushed around to make sure their gear was stowed together.

Next the reception room ...  a free litre of tea - just what the doctor ordered, but the room allocation got lost somewhere and we had to ask .. however 4th floor, top bunks, but all OK.

We also found a common room where we could sit and read.