Refuge Bertone 5th July 2024 Italy

I walked from Refuge Bonatti to Refuge Bertone on 5th July 2024, the easiest day, only a couple of hours walking but amazing views and well above all the town level goings on. It was a pleasure, the fabulous views of the Mont Blanc, surrounding mountains of the Grand Jorasses and Greuvvaz were delightful, coming from that direction the path way flat and easy, it was all fabulously easy trekking, all the way along the Val Ferret I could see the mountains, flowers and blue sky.

I stopped on a rock to read about geology in the sunshine. The perfect place to see the Mont Blanc back thrust and consider the tectonic plate movements creating the European continent and later geological thrusts.

I bumped into a trekker visiting from Bologna who couldn’t find the sign posts to Refuge Bertone, she had taken a wrong turning and headed into the mountains, she was relieved to discover the Bertone path which I pointed out, we walked up the valley to reach Bertone Refuge arriving at the path intersection to go up or down for 10 mins to the Refuge and the large drinks terrace outside. An international group of trekkers were drinking and talking on the terrace, it turned out their donkey was running late and hadn’t arrived with the baggage yet, it arrived after dinner just in time for bed.

I checked in, showered in 4 mins of hot water and got ready for dinner.

I was given top bunk 16 in a spacious and airy wooden chalet dormitory with 2 windows and a bathroom with 2 showers and 2 toilets next to it (just by the terrace). It was a nice alpine room. I paid 65 Euros for dinner, bed, breakfast.

Dinner: vegetable soup, cheesy polenta, vegetables, meat in sauce, chocolate dessert.

My name was included on the table of six inside the Refuge. We sat on wooden bench in a wood alcove, and I enjoyed chatting over dinner. I was next to a lady from Quebec, who was next to an American man, opposite a German young man doing it in 9 days, and an Australian/Italian lady, a Russian lady, many of whom were solo hikers, the German man had just done the Highland Way in Scotland and had been delighted with his time Scotland.

After dinner, people gathered on the terrace above Courmayeur town and chatted whilst waiting for the donkey to arrive with their baggage. I introduced myself to the other International Mountain Leder staying at Refuge Bertone, her group were on their last day tomorrow descending to Courmayeur.

The experience at dinner was convivial, the dormitory was relaxed and friendly, the Tera E was a delight, the shower was hot, the toilets were clean, the bunk room was only half full which surprised me in a Friday, there were guests in single rooms which they all said was really a nice experience at the end of the trek.

Breakfast is at 07:30. It is 06:30 and people are moving about in the bunk room and someone is still snoring. It is light outside. Another day walking in the European Alps beckons…one direction goes to France, the other direction goes to Switzerland.

The walk can go in either direction, the route known as the TMB, the Tour Mont Blanc goes through 3 countries, France, Switzerland, Italy, and can be started anywhere enroute and sone in my direction. I like starting or ending from Col Forclaz (car needed) or La Fouly (train/bus from Geneva via Martigny) in Switzerland or from Contamines or Chamonix in France. The views are fabulous in either direction on this fabulous circular hike around the Mont Blanc mountains.

Give it a go!