Snowshoeing in the Verbier forests

Breathtaking views, crazy lichens, winter survivor plants, Norwegian spruces & larches with wildly textured barks, mosses, last autumns dead flowers heads & seed pods, perhaps even some trolls or fairies - what is there not to like about this?

 

 Stunning views of the Chamonix massif range, peeking over the top of Bruson - the Aiguille d'Argentière. We really are just a hop, skip & a snowshoe from Italy & France.

The quantity of lichens hanging here make one wonder if we are not walking through a mystical swampland like the Florida Everglades - just don't snowshoe on a hibernating crocodile!!

Magical Snowshoeing in Verbier

What a super spot to adventure out in! Definitely need snowshoes as it is snowing every other night. The forest is covered in snow! And the best is that we can wander around where the bushes in the summer don't let us go - unless you like to get your pants ripped off by junipers & rasberries! 

 Everyone can enjoy taking the time to breath and feel how good it is out here. If all you have is a morning it is still worth it. The feeling is so re-generating!

Sunny snowshoe in Champéry!

A beautiful day by the Vièze river with a loop around the fields of the Grand Paradis. With a name like that how can one go wrong?!

Bruson summit

What a sunny day! Just the perfect place to go to get that much needed bowl of fresh air! The fun thing about Bruson is the amount of options : you can use lifts, or not; skis, tellemarks, touring gear, snowshoes, or just boots.

The views are so beautiful and surprising. The forest is magical and full of suspense. The locals are friendly & their cheese delicious. In short it is a place to discover!

Avalanche & snow knowledge

A wonderful day out after a fresh snowfall to study avalanches and snowflakes. Fascinating and interesting info to learn about.

Cannot wait to share some of my new knowledge. But one thing is sure, we need more snow and the snowpack this winter is definitely not even or safe!

Learning how to interpret it and play safely in it are essential for anyone who goes out of bounds or in the backcountry.

Walking below La Chaux

Wonderful walk from the bottom of the valley to Schlerondes. Saw lots of animal tracks & wild poops. Had a dozen or so female bouquetins (ibex) with their young watching us from the side of the cliff, 15 meters away from us!

The fohen is blowing and the snow is scarce and slushy. We did not even use snowshoes, although they would have been nice for the last part!

Happiness & Health & Lots of Fun!

Happy 2014

Yahoooo!
A new snowshoeing expedition in Bruson. We took the new lift up and took a wander through the snowy  fields and (a bit less snowy) forests!

There were some beautiful icicles and lots of animal tracks. We even saw deer tracks! Not something we see every day here.

The views down into the valleys were amazing as were the panoramas from the tip top of the val de Bagnes to the val Ferret and Dents du Midi.

Sunny Verbier winter walks

 Another amazing day of hiking around Verbier before the snow starts to fall! We had views! Sunshine! And frozzen eidelweiss! Including metallurgical mythical birds!

 No snowshoes needed on this hike, just some little rubber crampons to keep us from slipping on the icy snow. Absolutely perfect! Don't forget the sun cream, at this altitude the sun's rays are brutal!

Fly birdy, fly!

Wild Walks in Switzerland's Alps!

This week has been all about getting out and walking where there should normally, at this time of year, be too much snow to go there! As a result we have managed to get places where the wildlife has been hanging out and been able to watch them bounce around in the cliffs. Their ease to move around where I can only imagine going with a rope and a parachute is seriously impressive!

There is snow and ice on most trails so you need to take poles and rubber crampons. Yep, those things really old people wear around in the winter so they dont slip. They are my new most favorite thing to take with me - after a picnic of course...!

 Amazingly I managed to get a photo of some forest trolls! Please be careful around them!

Snowshoeing in the Swiss Alps!

First snowshoe to Cabane Brunet!

I have never done this before, normally I ski tour here. I have always been put-off by the descent...

In reality it was not so bad. I heard lots of birds and saw 5 white tails! Amazing, considering the amount of people who pass by in this forest. I guess not many people go off the paths (as you probably will find yourself on a cliff) so the animals are safe.

The begining of the snowshoe with powder snow & larch pine needles was magical. It was beautiful to get into the sun by the hutt. Am so glad I can still do things for the first time!

Walking below Clambin

The sun is so warm these days you can walk in a t-shirt! But dont forget how low in the sky it is. As soon as it sets behind the mountain peaks you need warm clothes!

As the snow is melting there is ice on the paths and it is nice to have good boots and poles to keep from sliding around.

To snowshoe or not to snowshoe...!?

For me it is that time of year when I do not know if I should take snowshoes along or not!

Well we chanced it and walked up without them to the Chutte du Bisse du Levron. It was fabulous, but hopefully the next time there will be too much snow and ice to do it snowshoe-less!

 Magical moss!

 Trolls & boys!

View of the Dents du Midi that I will never tire from admiring!

Winter is here!

Splendid afternoon spent snowshoeing in Fionnay, the very end (or is it the begining?) of the snow covered val de Bagnes.

I cannot believe I am still using the Atlas snowshoes I was first sponsored 7 or 8 seasons ago! They are proof of quality. Numerous clients have worn them over the years & in all sorts of conditions. Today they got to taste cold pure untouched powder...aaahhh! There is really nothing like it!

We saw lots of chamois tracks & snowshoe hare bounces & fox passages. I also enjoy seeing the flowers, like the thistle photographed here.

Fabulous first snow!

Soft sunny snow with a crisp spark to it at each step. Perfect for a walk without snowshoes!

If we would have gone any higher than Les Ruinettes (Verbier) we would have needed them though!

After Sunday's forecast it will be snowshoes or skis for sure. But it is fun to go where the avalanche danger will not let us go anymore in a few weeks. I just love the changing textures and having the landscape change because of the elements. Bring it on mama nature!

Fall in the Verbier Clambin forest

Well the rain stayed at bay & the clouds were beautiful. But what really caught my attention was the mosses,  the flowers gone to seed, the rippening of the juniper berries, the mushrooms in all styles, and changing colors of the blueberry bushes. What a day!

Am sure there are lots of happy trolls & fairies!

Still so much to do!

Drying flowers for teas & spice mixes!

Traverse of the Rogneux

The Rogneux summit is just above 3000 meters. And look!! There are flowers blooming all over the rocks!

We chose a beautiful day and had panoramic views of the Matterhorn & Mont Blanc as well as up close glacial views of the Combins & Mont Blanc de Cheillon.

Just stunning! Not to mention the fall colors of the blueberry, heather, juniper bushes intertwined with the yellowing grasses, with the blue blue sky above. Almost too many colors!

This is such a beautiful time to be at altitude!