TMB 6: Packs are so light because we are WEARING nearly everything!

Lovely breakfast for about 120 people. I look around and count maybe 20 who are under 30 years old. Quite the crowd! It is snowing and emotions are high. We put on three or four layers top and bottom and all our rain gear, neck gaiter, and mittens. I think I would rather have snow than rain at this point. Off we go slipping and sliding down the track. I entertain my first worries about inadequate shoes - am wearing Altra zero drop hiking/tennis shoes - recommended by REI but they seem VERY lightweight compared to what I am surrounded by. Soooo comfortable for my wide/bunioned feet, but not very good for ice and snow. About halfway down, after landing on my butt once, I get a little panicked. I absolutely HATE to fall and am super careful going downhill - having a hip replacement 27 years ago stoked that fear in me - but, well, what can I do? Fortunately we come out of the worst within a couple hours. After a hot chocolate and latte at the base of a mountain pass, Vern said the caffeine turned me into a climbing beast - lol!  I was actually just ready to GET TO THE NEXT PLACE. Today's elevations were 3,000 feet up and 4,400 feet down. Snow stopped and sun started to come out as we arrived at the sweetest little refuge called Gite la Lechere where a large wooden flowered "boot" welcomed us! Had a wonderful shower, hung things to dry, and enjoyed the wood stove. We share our place with an Aussie dad, his two young adult kids and two ladies from Estonia here to celebrate 25 years of friendship together (they are 28 years old).  Dinner is huge white sausages (delicious), salad, potatoes, and poached pears. We learned so much about Estonia! It is the tech capital of the world (birthplace of Skype), 99.7 percent literate, highest number of super models per capita, free public transportation, one of the cleanest places on the planet, highest number of startups in the EU, and the birthplace of the first Christmas tree! Wonderful conversation. It's incredible to see so many young people from around the world doing big adventures abroad before they settle into careers. Of course, they are not laden with thousands of dollars of college debt like our US kids are. Hmmmmmm...
Our hosts keep us up until about 10:30 pm with their raucous games of Rummy Cube - go figure. It's usually quiet by 8:30 pm at the large hostels but these old codgers have the nightlife!