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. 

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!!

Les Blisiers

Thank goodness this cute summit in the Entremont Valley is not goung to be renamed "les blisters"!

The trees are encased in the powder that just fell on Saturday.

The larches light up with the sun and play brightly on the blue clear sky!

As we reached the summit, approx 2000 meters high, the wind sprinkled sparkles all around us. Lucky us, we even saw some chamois!

A real fairy tale panorama!

The view spans from the Massif des Combins, val Ferret to the Dents du Midi (here) and accross to the Rhône Valley area.

Really worth the drive out of Verbier to be discovered.

Views of the Swiss Alps

2 very different views of the summit of the Grand Combin. Both taken in this crazy sunny winter sunshine weather. The spacial differences of what you can see or cant see as you walk around in the Val de Bagnes is astounding.

Hike up Dent de Valerette

Stunning hike! Stunning views! Stunning day!

This is a fun hike to a summit that doesnt take too long, but reaps all the benefits of being up high!

The Muverans poking out as you go up up up up in the dry grassy winter fields.

At the summit of the Dent de Valerette the Massif des Combins is just amazingly beautiful. It is hatd to catch the correct skyline in these photos, with so many ridgelines to get confused with...

A nifty cross at the top to remind us that we can be looking accross at the Canton de Vaud which is not Catholic (shudder)!

On the way back down passed by the Whitepod Hotel. Fabulous views above the stratus clouds with the Dents de Morcles here. Not much snow for snowshoeing....

And then the moon came up!!!

Hiking in the dry december swiss alpes

Not much snow to snowshoe on, so hiking is the activity at the moment.

From Fionnay, at the end of the val de Bagnes you can access the hikes on the sunny side of the valley without a problem at the moment. 

It is straight up for a bit less than 1000m. The views are totally worth it. We were lucky and had the gypaète fly right at eye level. I even saw his beard!!

The snow is hard enough to walk on near the cabana.

No fishing today in the Lac de Louvie! No skiing backside of the Mont Fort either!!

Views back onto the Massif des Combins. Breathtakingly beautiful with blue blue skies!

Hiking early winter

Well it snowed once...and now it has melted so much that the hiking has gotten amazing again!

We went up to roughly 2000m in the old larches and the dry grassy fields. 

The views are clear and beautiful all the way to the Jura. The Dents Du Midi are amazing as is the view accross to Verbier once we got to the top.

Just a notr to everybody, it gets cold quickly, dont forget to bring dry warm layers. Oh...and gloves!!! My hands got really cold on the way down...ugh!