Hikes, Huts & Hotels in the Alps: Haute Route: Arolla to La Sage

This was a short and easy day - a day to relax, let your limbs recover and prepare for the following days hike. The path went down the valley via Lac Bleu down to Les Haudères and then up to La Sage. The weather was grey with clouds with a chill in the area and drops of rain from time to time. The going was wet and slippery underfoot along the narrow forest path.

Initially the clouds hide the mountains, but gradually they dissipated to reveal jagged peaks. Soon after we reached Lac Bleu - which as the name implies - is really blue!

From here the path descends steeply to La Gouille - a small hamlet who's restaurant advertises its Flemish ownership by selling chips with mayonnaise, offering Belgium beer, flying the Belgium flag and displaying signboards in Flemish!

Les Haudères was reached around lunch time - but no restaurant seemed to be open. The summer season had passed and the winter season had yet to begin - many involved in the tourist trade had clearly decided to take their holidays. We quickly moved on up the hill to our destination for the day - La Sage.

Here a few hundred metres above the valley floor one gains a grand view of the mountains to the south.