RockyPop is such a cool place with a great vibe—definitely a fun spot to stay. I ordered a lunch box and planned to eat it at one of the mountain passes (cols) while enjoying the view. The French countryside was absolutely magnificent.

I was totally in the zone on day one and truly enjoyed every step of the journey. The view from Col de Tricot was stunning, so I took my time there and had my lunch while soaking it all in.

There was a forecast for a thunderstorm in the late afternoon, so I aimed to arrive early at Refuge de Nant Borrant. The forecast was right—it rained later that evening, and I was so glad I had decided to stay in a refuge instead of camping.

This was my first refuge experience, and it was exactly what I had hoped for. The food was good, the people were very friendly, and we had a great time chatting with fellow hikers. I met people from Poland, Australia, and especially some friendly French hikers.

There was no Wi-Fi at the refuge—but honestly, I didn’t miss it.