HAUTE ROUTE, DAY 6. EASY STROLL

Fresh snow above 2200m

Lac Bleau

Cloudy

Would look great with no cloud 

The easiest day on the Haute Route today with a short stroll, mainly downhill, to La Sage. The fresh snow from yesterday still lingering above 2500m. Cool temperatures into next week.

HAUTE ROUTE, DAY 5, SNOW

Cold and snowing 

Not many Eidelweiss left now

The final pull up to the Col Reidmatten 

Col Reidmatten (2019m)

It's not unusual to get snow falling in the Alps down to lower altitudes,  even in July and August.  So September is no exception. I guess for some first time trekkers to the Alpine environment its can come as a bit of a shock to be walking in warm sun one day and cold, snowy weather the next. That is exactly what we got today.  There has been a cool, Northerly airflow all week and today we had percipitation in the form of snow forecast at 2200m. We set out early before the worse of the conditions set in. Leaving the Prafleuri Refuge at 0745 we left many groups behind who had decided not to tackle todays steep Col and instead they walked to the Barrage at Lac Dix to get a bus round to Arolla. That left just my group and one other group on the mountain! We had mostly dry conditions,  just a few light snow showers above 2500m. We we're at the Col Reidmatten for 11.15am, the earliest I have been here. The winds were not a problem and no way near what was forecast.  An easy descent into Arolla and only the last hour did we get wet. We arrived in town at 1.30Pm, good going. It's always a good idea to hire a guide ( me!) and a company like Mont Blanc Treks who know the routes well. They are vastly experienced guiding the Haute Route and TMB many times per season. It was worrying watching some groups this morning who didn't have basic kit such as waterproof trousers. All afternoon it has been snowing in Arolla at 2000m. Will be interesting to see the hills in the morning. 

HAUTE ROUTE, DAY 4. THE 'WILDERNESS'

Mont Blanc range from Sentier de Chamois 

Grand Combin from the trail to Col Louvie 

Col Termin 

Male & female Ibex

Grand Combin 

Col Prafleuri 

Enjoying the traverse 

Grand Combin from Sentier de Chamois 

For me the finest day of the Walkers Haute Route has to be the section from Cabane Montfort to Prafleuri. High trails, wilderness, stunning mountain scenery and beautiful wildlife are the key ingrediants for a memorable time in the hills. We we're blessed with excellent,  sunny weather and not too hot. An early start to get the best light and for spotting Ibex, Chamois and a young Eagle. There was a full moon overnight which was still visibile this morning. There are 3 cols to traverse, the finest being the Sentier de Chamois.  It lived up to it's namesake.  We  saw many ibex aswell as Chamois.  All along are stunning views of the Grand Combin and the Mont Blanc range. We were at Prafleuri by mid afternoon and nice to sit outside in the sun, looking at even more Ibex.

HAUTE ROUTE, DAY 3 CABANE MONTFORT

The walk up to the Cabane du Montfort 

The Val de Bagnes & Verbier 

Early morning above Osieres 

Nearing Cabane Montfort 

An easy day on the Haute Route today. From Champex it's a 900m downhill stroll  to Sambrancher in the Val de Bagnes followed by an even easier walk along to Le Chable for lunch. We are then whisked ( the easy option) by cablecar back up to over 2200m at Les Ruinettes where we walk the final stretch to the Cabane du Montfort. This cosy refuge has fine panoramic views of the Grand Combin massive and the Mont Blanc massive. Nice sunny weather most of the day with any morning cloud soon burning off.

HAUTE ROUTE, DAY 2 FENETRE ARPPETTE

The Trient Glacier 

Arppette Valley from the Fenetre 

The Fenetre Arppette 

Arppette Valley 

Above the Trient Valley 

Second day out on the Haute Route and a tougher day but spectacular.  The Fenetre Arppette is a high col with steep approach and descent. The trail is roughly than most others, Scottish rocky type path with a few boulders thrown in. There was more cloud around today but it made it quite spectacular. Lots of Marmotts on the Arppette side of the mountain.  The team did well, 8 hours up and down including marmott and ibex spotting.

FINAL HAUTE ROUTE 2017

Crystal clear skies on Mont Blanc 

Aiguille Rouge 

Aiguillete de Posettes 

The team on Croix de Ferr

Ridge walk up to Croix de Ferr 

Summit in the sun 

Looking to the Trient Glacier 

Ridge walking in the sun

Father and Daughter enjoying views

My final guiding trip in the Alps this season. How quickly the Alpine season goes! For my final trek it's the Walkers Haute Route, the third this year. On this 10 day trek I am guiding for Mont Blanc Treks. Another small group with just 4 folk plus one other person joining us at Arolla. A grand start today with stunning clarity of light. The cool Northerly airflow giving a superb quaulity to the air.  Not a cloud all day. We could even see  The Bernese Alps very claearly still with some fresh snow from last week. We kicked off the tour with an easy trek of just 7 hrs going over the Aiguillete de Posettes,  Col de Balme,  Croix de Ferr and descending via Tseppes.  

TOUR OF THE MATTERHORN, DAY 8. FINAL DAY

Bridget & Sue at the finish

The North Face of the Matterhorn 

Gornergrat & Rifglealp 

Steflealp 

Matterhorn & Mattertal 

No beers outside today 

These guys were were warm today

So that's what the Matterhorn looks like

A fab way to finish off the Tour of the Matterhorn trek is a walk up to the Hornli Hut right at the foot of the Matterhorn. Unfortunately the weather today was low cloud and poor visibility. Such a shame for Bridget & Sue who have trekked for  7 days around this magnificent mountain, only to see nothing of it on the last 3 days. We woke to a cold, low cloud Zermatt for a second day running.  Overnight rain had turned to snow above about 2400m. It isn't unusual to get a bit of snow on the hills at anytime during the summer months. We set off in hope of a view of this iconic mountain.  The walk to Zmutt is just lovely,  this tiny group of old Alp buildings and farms has two cafe's!
After lunch headed up to Steflealp where you get a great view of the North Face of the Matterhorn.  We saw the base of it and part of the Hornli Ridge. The best we ere ever going to get. Soon we reached Schwarsee and our highpoint plus finish of this trek. Just a stroll back to town. A great effort by the ladies and brilliant 8 days.
Next stop, Chamonix and Haute Route!

TOUR OF THE MATTERHORN, DAY 7 ZERMATT - RANDA

Sue & Bridget on a section of the Europaweg 

Coffee time

Phsyced for the bridge!

Bridge to ourselves 

Lots of these guys today 

Wee bridge 

Tunnels

Weisshorn under there, somewhere 

The stubborn cloud plagued the Zermatt area once again today. We had light rain and low cloud this morning.  Also feeling quite chilly. This never put Bridget & Sue off their penultimate day of the Tour of the Matterhorn. To get the best of the weather forecast,  we did the Zermatt to Randa section in reverse, hoping for better weather in the afternoon and some magic Matterhorn photo opportunities. They never  came, the iconic mountain was clas in think, low cloud all day. Still we had a fun day on the new Bridge along the Europaweg. We had the trail to ourselves for much of the day. In the afternoon we spotted Chamois,  ibex and plenty of marmotts. It was lovely and peaceful along the Europaweg,  presumerbly because of the weather?! Last day of this tour tomorrow.  Will we see the Matterhorn?