I had waited for my parents for over an hour at the end of our TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc). I had sent out messages and asked hikers about them, but no one had seen them.
I could see rain clouds covering Mont Blanc and the temperature was dropping rapidly, with winds increasing in intensity. My parents had rain gear, but something told me that would not help. I started getting cold.
Instead of assuming the worst, I assumed the best possible explanation of why they were late:
They took a lower cable car down to the city below, Chamonix, the place where we started the tour.
That's what I told myself.
Just in case they were still on the trail, I left hiking cards with a note to my parents:
I took the cable car down to Chamonix and will meet you at the at tourist information center. If I don't find you, I'll be staying at the Ski Chalet Station.
-- Hans
I left this message on hiking cards with a lady at a snack shack and the cable car operator.
My parents would never get these messages.
I looked down the mountain one last time to see if my parents were coming up the trail. Nothing.
I got on the cable car and descended to the lower station, Les Praz, and took another car down to Chamonix.
When I stepped out of the cable, the sun was out and blazing. I stopped by the Chalet, where had stayed the first night. A group of Dutch teens were playing cards when I asked them if they had seen my parents, showing them the hiking card. They hadn't.
I walked quickly down the hill into downtown Chamonix, directly for the tourist center. As I rounded the corner, I hoped to see my mom and dad lounging on the outside sunbathing chairs with the rest of the tourists mooching the free-wifi. But they weren't there. I went in maids to ask about train schedules and showed the desk clerk the hiking card, in hopes she had seen my parents. She hadn't.
I went outside and collapsed in a chair, started to realize how tired I was. I got online with the free wifi and waited, trying not to think of the other possibilities.
Then, I got an email from my mom:
Subject: WE GOT LOST!!!
We are at Plan Praz with no desire to go to Brevant since we have been hiking for hours. Can we meet you in Chamonix? Ticket office here doesn't open until 2.
I was so relieved!
I replied right away:
Yes! I just got to the tourist office! I was getting worried! I waited at Brevent until 12:40, then came down on the cable car -- I'm at the tourist office. See you soon! glad to hear your ok!
20 minutes later, my parents found me and we were reunited!
But our day wasn't over-- we had a train to catch.
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