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!

Snowshoeing Raquettes in Bruson

Just accross the valley from Verbier is the super village of Bruson. The area is definitely fun and diverse enough to play in in any season!

Snowshoeing around the Norwegian Spruces and Larches we found this mushroom hiding under some snow! It is nice to take the time to see things.

Looking down towards the valley floor. We were just above some cute  mayens (wooden huts one goes to in the month of May to graze the cows).  Although today there are no cows and no grass to graze on!!

Still snowing! What a winter! This is ideal!!!

Yet spring is about to burst out in flower according to what is not under the snow today!

Snowshoeing in Val de Bagnes Verbier

Yeeehawww! We have just gone to being the driest winter to having more snow than I can play in!

 It has been dumping in the Swiss Alps off and on since the 3rd of Jan now!

Some strange creatures live in these forests near Verbier! Make sure you look up even if it means getting snowflakes in your eyeballs.  

And then there is the survival of these ferns who came out of the sea, once a long time ago! Look at how much they love the snow too, they are hugging it!! Yeah!

Lots of snow to move around in, have to take advantage when someone has already been by and made a trail. It looks like a few people braved coming out here in the last 2 days.

Snowshoeing to the top of wild wood piles! Not sure the locals would appreciate this...luckily there is rarely so much snow at this altitude. 

Enjoying playing with the winter wild conditions!

Raquettes à neige à Verbier

De la neige jusqu'au dessus des genoux! Mais elle est tellement légère, ahhhh! Comme ça fait du bien!

Enfin Verbier sous la neige, j'avais peur que tout commence à devenir vert! 

Ca a l'air lourd!

Des mélèzes transformés en palmiers des neiges!

Un banc avec un peu trop de neige pour se poser aujourd'hui!!

Snowshoeing on Savolèyres in Verbier

I took so many photos today, and they are all just soooo good! 

The fields of Savolèyres are finally white again! Yipeeee!

So we headed out to the Marlénaz and ended up going all the way to the Chutte du Bisse, before the huuuge snowfall starts and we end up in Avalanche Danger 4 - which means: Don't go here!

Where the cows come for a drink and a view!

The Chamonix Massif, and Trient & Dolent, just breathtaking!

The view of Dents du Midi from the Chutte du Bisse du Levron. Looking mystical with the clouds!

The Grand Chavallard and Morcles region from the Chutte du Bisse.

Looking back towards Verbier.

Verbier all white and tucked in under a snow blanket. 

Wild tracks to lead us along.

A view towards Bruson. The forest there looks like it wants to be snowshoed in!

Nighttime snowshoe in Verbier

The forest around Clambin is lacking a bit of snow, but we managed to have a beautiful time as the flakes were falling. The snow was so beautiful, after all this dry weather that we ended up being out from 10:00 to 18:00! 

Happy woods!

Chez Dany with the lights on. What a great stop and shot of local schnaps we had to help us keep going all the way to the slushy village!

Snowshoeing La Chaux Verbier

Wooohooo! Great weather and great snow to snowshoe around in. With the Massif des Combins on your horizon the whole time!

What a great spot to have a chalet. Wonder if we can stay up here all winter?

Les Dents du Midi looking majestic as usual.

Snowshoeing around Fontaney, since the snow is too thin for skiing we had the whole place to ourselves! Ahhh, the joys of being versatile.

The Aiguille d'Argentière, so convincing!

Lots of lost snowshoeing to do in Verbier

Everybody thinks Verbier is a busy busy and crowded place, well not today! We had all the sun and all the mountain to ourselves. It really is a pleasure to be out on days like this.

 Only see wild animal tracks! What a beautiful way to get to know what is going on in nature by trying to figure out what animal passed where you are about to set your snowshoes!

 Massif des Combins with the Verbier Cross-Country-Ski trail. Empty & sunny!

 Bruson in the sun with the Massif de Chamonix behind it and the Trient Glacier all covered with fresh snow!

 Glacier de Corbassière looking every shade of blue beyond imaginable!

 I almost feel bad touching all this virgin snow!

 Bench in hibernation at altitude - not ready for a picnic yet...

So many awesome options for hiking and snowshoeing in the val de Bagnes!

Awesome day along Bisse de Levron

Some groovy ice formations are appearing with all this sunny weather!

These little wings are what hold the pine nuts that all animals are after during winter. The squirrels, birds, and rodents are all leaving them strewn all over the forest floor. They come from the Norwegian Spruce (épicéa) pine cones. I find them extremely difficult to extract, but they are tasty!

Of course the Massif des Combins was ever present in the incredibly blue blue sky!

Super Snowshoeing near Verbier

Just a little drive away from the tourist center of Verbier lies a fabulous area to snowshoe in. There were lots of animal tracks, & views from Verbier to the Saint Bernard regions - not much is missing!

Views towards The Entremont Valley & Orsières

Fresh powder tracks!

Not often that someone is willing to walk infront of me and make my snowshoeing day easier! Yippee & Thanks!

Old troll beards hanging off the trees!

Picnic & tea spot under the frozen roots of a larch (mélèze) tree which fell over. It is amazing to take the time to inspect the roots and see what they hold : rocks & bolders, new trees, frozen dirt, homes for rodents, etc...

And of course some crazy fresh air lichen, soaking up the non-polluted air of the val de Bagnes!