LA SAGE TO ZINAL, COOLER!

Descending from Carne de Sorbois 

Mont Blanc de Chiellon & Val 'Herens 

Lac de Moraiy cows

Afternoon cloud over Val d'Herens 

Lac Autannes 

Clouds 

Zinal Rothorn clear

Carne de Sorbois & Lac de Moraiy 

Thankfully the temperatures had dropped to 'normal' summer heat today. Overnight rain again leaving a fine morning. Today the team were faced with almost 2000m of ascent and 1500m descent.  The terrain is much kinder though. The cols of Torrent and Sorbois are the challenge from La Sage to Zinal. Some of the big 4000m peaks are to be seen on this beautiful leg of the Walkers Haute Route.  We strolled into Zinal just beating the rain, again.

EASY STROLL DAY

The traverse path above Val d'Herens 

Lac Bleau 

Hotel de Glacier 

Large Copper (Lycaena dispar) Butterfly

The odd rocks step

La Sage 

Halfway along the Walkers Haute Route today. The easiest section of the trek goes from Arolla to La Sage. Some may say this is a rest day it is so easy. Highlight is Lac Bleau,  a popular day trip for families.

PRAFLEURI TO AROLLA

Mont Blanc de Chiellon 

Lac Dix

Col de Reidmatten 

The final pull to the Reidmatten 

View west from Col de Reidmatten 

Meadows to Arolla 

Many Butterflies about

Meadows and Eidelweiss 

Mont Collon 

Eidelweiss 

Beautiful morning 

The walk down from the col

Pigne de Arolla & Mont Blanc de Chiellon 

Our last day up in The wilderness.  A gorgeous day, hot again. The toughest, and steepest col on the Haute Route has to be the Col de Reidmatten. It's not long but it is comprised of very loose rock and some care needed to negotiate the rocks. Before reaching the final pull there is some magnificent scenery as you Pass the big mountains of Pigne de Arolla and Mont Blanc de Chiellon . We saw hardly anyone today. Leaving at 7am to beat the thunderstorm late this afternoon .

INTO THE WILDERNESS

Grand Combin from Sentier de Chamois 

Traverse to the Col de Louvie 

We counted 19 Ibex today

Snow down from the Col de Louvie 

Afternoon storm clouds brewing 

Mt. Cenus Bell flower 

Grand Desert flowers 

Water crossing,  Grand Desert 

Mont Blanc range first light

Col de Prafleuri 

Even more Ibex 

For me the two finest days on the Walkers Haute Route is the section from Cabane Montfort to Arolla. The highest, remotest section of the entire trek. It's teaming with wildlife too. On the Saturday we walked the easy section from Champex to Le Chable and then took the cablecar up to Les Ruinettes.  It's just an hour or so from here to the Cabane Montfort. Another very hot day.
Sunday dawned clear for the big traverse to Cabane Prafleuri.  Taking in the 3 cols of Col de Termin,  Col de Louvie & Col de Prafleuri.  A 10 hour day with very fine scenery.  We encountered 17 Ibex on our traverse to the first Col. Between Termin and Louvie we had an Golden Eagle soaring close by. A brilliant day of sun. The cloud came in  slowly above us but we got to Prafleuri in good time before the evening thunderstorm.

HOT DAY ON THE FENETRE ARPPETTE

Descending the Fenetre Arppette 

The Trient Glacier 

Fenetre Arppette 

The Trient side

New steps at the recent landslide 

Dan enjoying the Glacier views

Boulders 

Croix de Ferr 

Some big packs on the trail today 

Trient Glacier 

Another very hot day on the Haute Route. Probably around 28 C by mid afternoon. A tough toil in these conditions up the Fenetre Arppette. Great views and clear too. The team did well in the conditions. A good test piece of 1600m up and 1500m down. A lot of folk on the trail today with HUGE camping rucksack. Some looking wiped out as the approached the Fenetre.  Top day working for #tracksandtrails & #Cloud9adventours.

HAUTE ROUTE, NO.2

Dan enjoying the Mont Blanc view

Mont Blanc & Aiguille Rouge 

Trient Glacier from Les Tseppes 

Beautiful views 

St. Brunos Lilly 

Only patch of snow left today 

Locals at Tseppes 

Lovely light on Trient Glacier 

On the road again and the start of the second of 3 Walkers Haute Route's this season. This week I am guiding for Cloud 9 Adventures and Tracks & Trails. Just 4 folk this trip. Beautiful day as we made our start from Mont Roc to Trient.  Taking the far more scenic route via Aiguillete de Posettes to Col de Balme and then descending to Trient via Tseppes. The views from this beautiful Alp are stunning.  Especially when the afternoon light is on the Trient Glacier.