Super duper snowshoeing is happening now yahouuuu!

So for us in Switzerland we have to eat some chocolate bunnies, and why not on top of a little summit? Super fun little summit in the Chablais Valaisan. Perfect sun and perfect snow too. It had just dusted the mountains for the past 2 nights and we were able to slide on our butts all the way down! 

Absolutely epic! 

And I have to admit, the best part - no it was not that I managed to get the chocolate bunny up there intact....(although I was super psyched about that), the best part - was that one of the participants was a 12 year old boy! So so proud of him and his 15 year old brother for making it up to the top! It was not easy, but they did it. Bravo!!! Fantastic day! What a great memory! 

Looking towards Lac Léman, or Lake Geneva, one of the clearest views in a long time. We could even see the summits of the Jura behind Neuchatel - the Chasseral and Chasseron were totally clear! Not often that it can be seen like this. We looked, but did not see any boats on the lake sailing.

Top of the tooth for today! Yahooou!

Such a fun dynamic and friendly family! Thank you!

Beautiful view onto the Dents du Midi! Really worth it and unique experience! Look at how frozen the trees are! It was like someone took cake frosting and sprayed it on everything sticking out of the ground. Unforgettable! 

Snowshoeing in Verbier

It has been a beautiful start to 2020 in the world of winter walking and snowshoeing for CherriesWalks!

The snow has not fallen a lot, but it has been super fun to explore!

Sunny skies were basically all we have had since the start of the new year!

Many families have discovered the joys of Verbier on snowshoes!

Snowshoeing along the Bisse du Levron is always stunning!

Snowshoeing at sunset is a fun expedition too!

Snowshoeing in Verbier

Happy 2019! 

The snowshoe conditions are fabulous at the moment in the Swiss Alps! The snow is crispy, white and just perfect to take us anywhere we step!

 Early morning shadows on the snow are always fun to behold!

 Beautiful light shimmering on the snow. It is a great time to observe changes in the snow crystals!

Looking towards the Chamonix Massif just behind Bruson is spectacular. As the snow has settled we have lots of animal prints to study!

Big event tomorrow!

Hey hey! My updated website looks like it is going to be ready!!
Very exciting nerdy activity!
Of course it is not all going to be like it should be, but that is what life is!

Here are some things I did this summer instead of working on my website: Natural dying methods to imprint plants onto cloth and paper.

Boiling T-shirts with rust & leaves!

Wild geranium came out groovy!

Hammering it in was cool too!

Walked 200km on the N.W. Coast of Spain!

Biiiig backpack, for camping!

My what long legs I have! 

All the better for...hmmmm...wonder what?!

Modernized CherriesWalks.com Website

I believe it has taken me about 6 years to finally update my website!
Of course it is because I am always outside!! Yeah, I wish that were my excuse! I am just a really efficient procrastinator. Anything I have to do on my computer comes LAST!

I learned to make soap this summer!

Winter is just around the corner, so I need my snowshoes to be dusted off and my rubber crampons to be 100% functioning. Oh and I need to find my wooly hats, gloves, ski pants, and poles! Yeah, poles are important. 

Saved some bees out of Bruson too!

So, before all that activity.....I must re-do my website. I have given myself the 1st of December to publish it. Let's see if I am capable!
Oh, and thanks for your patience!

Derborence: hostility vs. tranquility

We had a beautiful walk through the 'pioneer' forest that led us to the lake of Derborence. There we contemplated the 300 year old trees that had not been destroyed be the Diablerets rock fall so many centuries ago.

We headed back across the rubble piles of the rock fall and watched how the power of water and snowmelt continuously creates and shapes the landscapes. 

The sun was lowering in the sky as we passed below the Quille du Diable and joined up to a hameau hanging precariously on the left-over green pastures. The chalets we walked by are totally wrong looking, as in they cannot possibly expect to survive in such a hostile spot! 

 There was a surprising view of the Massif des Combins at one point!

That is the true beauty of Derborence. The hostility and tranquility juxtapositions are absolutely phenomenal!

We ended the loop by walking across the dam, which is often overlooked when one comes here.

Val de Bagnes Le Tour des Lacs

I have seen signs for this 'Tour des lacs' for many years now, as I roam around the Rogneux area. And now I understand why I see them all over the place; the tour covers the entire front face as well as all the nooks and crannies up the little 'vallons'. 

An extra lake, not on the official tour...absolutely beautiful and lunar in its alpine corner.

The fine silt was frozzen solid under our feet! We were a bit worried about sliding right into the water. Luckily that did not happen, as we would have turned instantly into popsicles in the water at the base of the Petit Combin. 

The blend of colors of end of summer grasses and bare rocks above the alpine glacier lakes is really worth taking the time to appreciate. 

This tour takes all day and covers many kilometers, but you can cut it short and do it in smaller loops. But the whole tour, plus our little jaunt up towards the Col de Lâne is definitely worth while. 

Col du Sanetsch

We took off and walked for the day on the moon! 

Such weird landscapes!

Bisse du Neuf Savièse

Autumn colors are here early this year as we have had frosts down low into the valleys already. Combined with the dry spell the leaf trees are turning all sorts of amazing shades. It is really worth checking out right now! As in a few weeks this will be over and the larches will be turning yellow and golden, what a treat it will be then too!

The Bisse du Torrent Neuf is built into the cliff and where there is no logical pathway the wooden passrelles leave you on hanging bridges!

Amazing architecture feats of the 15th century or so.

One of the many hanging bridges! Youpiiie!

It really is dry out right now, the dust is thick. Across the way is the road up to the Sanetsch Pass. Also a place to discover in the fall.

Snowshoeing in Gryon

Sunshine & snow & smiles!

Snowshoeing in the shade of the Mirroir d'Argentine. 

The Hauts des Diablerets had just been given some powdered sugar as decoration for us to enjoy. The sun was so hot that avalanches were cascading down the faces around us. Makes me think only once about going any higher. In these conditions you have to play it safe and stay away from traps.

Trees hugging! 

The sun about to pop up over the Mirroir. Absolutely stunning!

The chalets in the valley, they are waiting for the snow to melt so cows can be brought back to graze the wildflowers.

Warm weather in winter hike

Fully is a nature discovery wonderland!

The nationaly protected bulbocode were out all over the place. Was like walking on a fairy tale path though the forest! 

The contrasts were blindingly beautiful, with white summits poking up around us, and the limestone Pierre Avoi pinnacle.

I read today that we are having the dryest winter in 50yrs in Suisse Romande. The grass here seems to agree! This is the Rhône river valley, looking towards the Upper Valais region.

Walking on granite with views of snowy mountains.

The color of the Rhône is beautiful, again some wild color contrasts with the spectacular Catogne summit here.

Snowshoeing Chablais

Bad weather day?!

There is no bad weather day when you snowshoe! They are always fun!!

Here we were under the summit of Valerette, with more time we could have gone to the top.

Snowy forests are just awesome to discover on snowshoes! There were lots of roe deer tracks visible today! 

Sunny snowshoe days in Verbier

The best moments of snowshoeing are often when we are going through a forest. It is the place of hiding spots for non hibernating animals. 

Finishing a full day of snowshoe fun with the sunset!

Obseving how the trees adapt to harsh winters and their amazing survival techniques is absolutely mind boggeling!

The views that peek between the Norwegian Spruces are delightful. 

The Pierre Avoi as seen from the Clambin area of Verbier.

The cute resort of Bruson and the Chamonix Massif seem so close here!

Sunshine!!