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Haute Route - Day 6

In the morning, we checked out and found a store to replenish our food supplies. For the next few days, we would be high up in the mountains and have limited opportunities to buy food. Next, we visited my parents before going to the ski lift. We first took one cable car to a higher village, where we had a drink and enjoyed the views. Then we took a second car to a higher station where we hoped to have lunch. Unfortunately, the restaurant there was closed, so we said goodbye and continued our hike.

While we climbed increasingly higher, the views became more and more beautiful. We also had some rain, but fortunately, that didn't last long. We passed another ski lift while a farmer brought down her cows and goats.

Around five o'clock, we reached a very high mountain hut. There were some flat meadows around and I was considering sleeping there, but they were crowded with cows and the hut looked out right over them, making it difficult to camp in secret. We had planned only to get a quick bite to eat in the hut, but as soon as we walked in, the lady working there asked if we had made reservations to stay there. We said no and explained we were planning to camp. Shocked, she told us that was illegal, although she added she wouldn't mind. 

As there were again no good places to camp secretly, and Diane preferred not to do so minutes after being told that was illegal, we asked how much it would be to stay for the night. With a straight face, the lady said it was 120 euros. That was 50% more than we had paid for the hotel room the night before. With few other options, we agreed, dropped our stuff on our beds, and got ready for the dinner that was at least included. Afterward, I went to pay and discovered our stay cost not 120 euros in total, but per person. That was just ridiculous. I was in a bad mood, as one of the things I like the most about hiking is sleeping outdoors, while now we were stuck in a small, expensive room where we couldn't even sleep well because of the tiny beds and all the snoring and bathroom noises from the other guests.

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