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. 

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.

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!

Beautiful Bisse de Bruson

Here is a fun walk to do in any weather! 

It is a loop in the woods that can be extended or shortened and can also suddenly if the desire hits one, include a peak!

Gushing waters from the mountain tops enter the bisse, which was used in the old days to water the fields so the village would survive winter.

A beautiful hike up to the start of where the water gets captured.

William Besse, a local ski hero, carved this goegeous howing wolf. I hope I can get a group out here on snowshoes this winter, I bet it is quite the sight in the dark!

Dont want to step off here to cool my feet!

Eating wild foods La Tzoumaz

A wikked hot wild day was had by the cows, the views and us picking our couscous and pesto lunch from the wild unkempt ski fields of La Tzoumaz. 

Thanks to La Maison de la Forêt for letting us invade your kitchen!

Fresh alpine serac with wildherb pesto and edible flowers for decoration!

Wild norwegian spruce buds tea with wild flowers! Beautiful and super refreshing too!

Couscous with wild spinach, wild thym, sarriette, daisies, common berce and whatever else was at the bottom of the forraging bags!

Cows chilling under the télésiège!

I just love the contrast of going up and over the Col de Croix De Coeur from Verbier to La Tzoumaz, which I often still call Les Mayens de Riddes. 

The views down onto the Rhône Valley are amazing!

NDD : Nature Deficit Disorder

Spending time in places like this with more flowers than your eyes can focus on or brain can comprehend should take care of any nature deficit disorder anyone is feeling!

I hope you can get out and feel the air in a place like this soon!

How do plants drink?

Many alpine plants have adapted to live in semi-desert conditions. They have tricks to get the most out of the smallest and rarest amounts of water, be it in vapor or ice form as well as liquid. Some can even defy gravity!!

Here the eidelweiss is doing some crazy thing just this morning after having been snowed on for the last 2 days up by the Cabane de Chanrion.

Pure magic!

The cabane chanrion is perched in the upper val de bagnes. A super place to get away from everything. There are bouquetins and marmots, beautiful wild flowers, wild alpine lakes, views of glaciers and awesome geology to discover too!!

Sirop au bourgeons de sapin. Epicéa

The Norwegian Spruce is the key to the magic of our Swiss healthy alpine air!

The famous "bourgeons de sapins"  come from the épicéa. They are picked now in the Spring.

Pick the green fresh ones and put them in a jar with sugar and let the jar sit in the sun all summer. The humidity and heat will melt it into a beautiful sticky mess. But when you filter out the pine needles you get a wonderful concoction!

Here it is in the jar now, alongside the sirup from last year. It is used to soothe sore throats and is super yummy on ice cream or in yogurts! 

Bird watching Pierre Avoi

We took a hike in the snow and clouds today to try and see some alpine birds. The snow was fresh so we saw lots of animal tracks. 

These belong to a big sized bird. Probably the Tetras as we heard its call just around the corner

A fresh pulsatilla vernalis, fuzzy!

Some marmot tracks were visible as well. Check out the claws it has for digging.

Sunny on the Rhone valley side!

Learn about wild flowers

Wildflower Workshops every Wed and Sat of May and June!

Happy flowers! 

Do you know what is in your flowery bouquets? Are the beauties you are picking edible? Are they toxic? Should some be dried for making an infusion when you have a sore throat in December?

Would you like to learn these things, and discover what to add to a salad or omlette for a unique zing at the same time?

Well then let's go for a walk together!

Learn how to pick and eat raw stinging nettles!

I will be available to do these workshops every Wednesday and Saturday in May & June with you.

If you would like to go on a different day call or email me to organise it!

Make gold like the alchemists were with these diamonds of water!

Wild animals in val de bagnes

Here is where the yeti bathes in winter! A fantastic walk before there is too much snow! We saw chamois bouncing all over and a groovy mouse building his winter spot.

Fantastic fall hiking in Verbier

I just cannot get enough of this weather! Absolutely beautiful day to hike up to the top of Pierre Avoi and straight back down to Verbier. The view is so amazing from up there. Just super duper!

Sweet Saint Christophe and its view down into the valleys as well as up into the snowy peaks surrounding us!

Drop off views are not for the faint of heart! Visited the Château de Verbier's ruins.

Blue skies baby!!

End of summer

Walking anywhere in the Alpes is a pleasure at the moment with the record high temperatures for November. The colors are fresh and vibrant! The air is delishious and the sun sets too early!!

I even took off my shoes and walked in the dry crispy crunchy leaves. What a glorious feeling. The wet mud was cold and kept me awake!

What's up buttercup?! Time to hibernate under the leaves till the ground warms up again. The survival techniques of plants is a fascinating dimension, I cant get enough of it!

Sunset on the Massif des Combins. Pink and pretty these evenings.

Meanwhile at the bottom of the valley the sun stopped shining around 3pm. The villages and histories of these ancient hamlets of the valley of Bagnes are so interesting to visit, and beautiful on these warm afternoons. 

Bisse de Bruson

The valley recently renovated their ancient irrigation systems for walkers. Not only are they fun to stroll along, but the cultural heritage they attest to makes them fascinating spots to discover. I cant wait till it snows to snowshoe along here.

There are some openings in the trees, where one can catch glimpses of Verbier & Sarreyer. The fresh snow at the end of the valley was really pretty to see when the clouds moved away from the Ruinette. Such spectacular views!

There were some awesome mushrooms all over the green luscious mossy carpets!