Superb stage over the high parts of the Vosges Mountains. At the beginning, the route climbs and passes the beautiful Naturelle de Tanet-Gazon du Faing. It then descends to Col de la Schlucht. After a short climb to Le Hohneck at 1363 meters, it descends via Lac de Schiessrothried to Mittlach. The route is mostly on rocky paths and there are many altimeters. However, it is a beautiful route with magnificent views.
The day starts well: a petit dejeuner at the hotel and the weather is lovely again. We take it easy and check out around 10:00 am. Our hike starts with a small climb overlooking Lac Blanc, to the plateau Naturelle de Tanet-Gazon du Faing. A plain full of blueberry bushes, cranberry bogs, large boulders and beautiful views, which rises above Alsace via a high cliff. A landscape left over from the last ice age and it shows; at times it seems as if we are in Iceland. It is fairly flat, but we have to be careful on the paths because of the many stones and rocks.
We follow the length of the plateau for about 10 kilometers and then descend to Col de la Schlucht. A tourist spot with cable cars, ski slopes, a bobsled run and some restaurants. An ideal place for a cup of coffee. After a small break we continue our way to the highest point of the hike: Le Hohneck at 1363 meters, with again magnificent views.
But we quickly walk on again, because thunderstorms are reported for tonight and we still need to descend 850 altimeters on rocky gravel paths for 8 kilometers.
Halfway down the descent is another place where we could possibly wildcamp. An abri near a small lake, really a nice place to camp. But because of the upcoming weather change and because the many ascents and descents of the past few days are starting to take their toll on our feet and knees, we decide to walk on to the campsite in the valley. There we will stay a day over, before the last 2 stages of this part of the Vosges. Fortunately, this time we arrive at the campsite just in time. As we put up our tent, the first drops fall and Mark quickly conjures up a shelter for the tent opening from our Sea To Summit poncho and a hiking pole.
With the chairs in the awning and the rain splashing on the tent canvas, we cook another delicious pasta meal. The thunderstorm continues for a while, but we managed to keep everything dry.
What a heavy, but truly beautiful day again today!
