Val d'Anniviers Illgraben walk

Here is a spot that will amaze and astound anyone! Just after the sweet village of St. Luc is the bulging metropolis of Chandolin, population 63! 

After a beautiful hike in one of the highest forrests of Switzerland, due to its protected exposure, you arrive at the impressive geological face of the Illgraben.

The views down into the Swiss German side of the Valais are breathtaking! On the other side are views all the way down the Rhône valley. Really a special spot!

If you get up for the sunrise you will see alot more than mushrooms. The area has the black cows of the Val d'Hérens grazing at the moment, but there are lots of wild chamois, and deer too. 

If you see the amanite mushroom, be careful it is toxic!

If you are lucky, as we were in the morning before the Foen wind picked up, you will see the Matterhorn on the horizon. Just another reason to visit this valley!

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!

Gorges in Zermatt

A well kept secret spot indeed! The gorjus gorges of the Gornera are an easy and exquisite way to get away from the crowded streets of Zermatt.

The waters of the torrent are an amazing color and very refreshing. The serpentine rocks have been carved into wild shapes and lead your imagination to thoughts of just how much water has gone through here. There are some surprising arolla pines growing here.

Out of the gorges and into the sunshine! The hamlets of Blatten & Zum See are so cute that they are almost unbelievable. The cows were grazing happily on the flowers used in Ricola candies!

The Cervin, Matterhorn, was as impressive as ever. 

On a sunny day, Zermatt delivers once again to a happy guide & hikers!

Mysterious Mountains of the Val d'Hérémence

This might have been the first time I walk below the Grande Dixence Dam. It was cloudy and snowy above, so we chose to change the plan and go to the top of the Pointe de Mandelon. We were there to spot animals, but as I learned you need to be there before 7a.m. when the herd of 20 or so deer are in the fields below grazing peacefully. It is amazing how they just vanished into the larch forest to never be seen again. How do they do that?!

There is not really a trail, so we walked over the reindeer lichens and gneiss rocks to the top. The view of the Rhône valley sort of came out at one point. And I cannot wait to return to see that view as well as the one into the Val d'Hérens.

Reindeer Moss - which is actually lichen. 

Juniper bushes helped us and our cheese warm up during our picnic. At the base of the mountain there is an alpage you can sleep and eat at. It has just been renovated and looked beautiful, oh and the coffee was good!

We walked along the ridge and returned to the alpage de Mandolin through the fields, making a loop. You might find poles helpful as there is no trail and you have to rock hop around looking for the best spot to place your next step!

Pooof! End of summer for this one!!

Cabane Panossière & Cabane Brunet

This walk has so many amazing aspects to it that it is hard for me to start writing about it!

The walk up from Fionnay has changed now that they have rebuilt the Bisse de Corbassière, it is a fabulous walk, you just have to get out of the steeeeep valley first.

We took our time walking up and met these black faced sheep along the way.

Sun-set & moon-rise on the Grand Combin from the Cabane Panossière. We had a delicious meal at the cabane. It may even be the best cabane food I have ever had! 

 The Cabane in the morning. We got up and took the path that crosses the valley to get to the Cabane Brunet. They now have a hanging bridge accross where the Glacier used to be, making it easier than climbing down a crumbly moraine to get there!

The suspension bridge takes you accross to the land of minerals and polished rocks left behind by the glacier's passage. It is quite a surreal area.

From here you see the top of the Glacier de Corbassière and the very bottom of it.

If you are lucky (or walking with me!) you will see Edelweiss growing over here. They were really fuzzy and fresh when we passed them.

Lac Léman Walk

This is such a great spot with the  lake & mountains, all the best Switzerland can offer. You can go into France as well as change cantons and hop from Vaud into Valais. This is also the start of a hike up and over mountain passes to Chamonix.

There is even an outdoor art exhibit

A nice flat walk for a change! 
At the end of the lake, there is a bird sanctuary with wild reeds and dragonflies and flat paths. 

Glacier in Verbier

Yesterday was a cloudy day, and I rode the lift up to the top of Mont Fort 3330 meters above sea level. The glacier under the lift shared by Verbier and Nendaz is called the Glacier de Tortin, it is the one you ski on if you come up here in winter.

In the morning I had read an article that says the Mont Blanc Glaciers are going to lose another 8 to 10 meters of volume before winter! So here are the photos of our disapearing glacier, with some alarming new crevasses.

I predict that this glacier will become unskiable in the next 5-10 years.

At the lift station at Col des Gentianes. Looks forbiden!

Nice photo to look at when there is no view. The lift people where a bit upset that the lift is now only going to be open on week-ends. Too bad!

The view appeared for a spiiiit second!

How will this enourmous crevasse be filled so we can ski on it this winter?

Quite beautiful patterns

Wild Passes in Val Ferret

The val Ferret is still a relatively wild place to hike. In this day out we can cross 2 or 3 passes to get a good close view of magnificent glaciers. The passes lead from Switzerland into Italy and one is very popular with the hiker's doing the Tour of Mont Blanc.

Little man, big glacier! Although the glaciers are dissapearing at the alarming rate of 1 meter per year (and it is visible to me in the past 15 years of living in the Alpes) they are still something to ponder and gaze at. 

The Mont Dolent

Walking up to the blue blue sky!

Larch trees and a beautiful balcony walk above the valley are really worth visiting once. There is a place you can spend the night at, or just have a crôute au fromage at just around the corner!! 

St. John's Wort - a sunny happy flower!

I hope I can tempt you to come here with me for a hike once!

Tour du Grand Chavalard

This is such a great tour to do. If you are fit it is possible to do in one day.

 If you spend a night in the newly renovated Cabane you can take the time to swim in the Lac Supérieur de Fully! As well as stare at the sunset on the Massif de Chamonix & the sunrise!!

 Just one of many insanely beautiful views on the second day, as we wander above Ovronnaz.

Verbier Extrême 2015 & new summits

Today was the Freeride World Tour's 20th time on the infamous Bec Des Rosses. I did not watch it, but as I snowshoed around a new summit (for me) on Savolèyres, I watched the beauty of all these mountains instead. The val de Bagnes is really an exceptional place and I am so lucky to be able to live in its beauty. I hope everybody had a beautiful day!

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!

Super snowy verbier

Fantastic day to be out roaming the forests with snowshoes on!

The lichens were covered in powder, giving the trees an extra white fuzzy look!

For some reason it is always hard to explain the lichen. If anyone has any tips, please share them with me.

On the way back down our tracks were practically invisible with all the snow falling. It was awesome!!