GRAN PARADISO

A few days in the Gran Paradiso National Park.  Italy's first NP and one of the few areas in The Alps that is still relatively quiet. Renowned for it's wildlife,  especially Ibex.
A fab, long day up to the  Col Loson at 3296m it is the highest point on the Alta Via long distance trail through the Gran Paradiso. Stunning day with bright sunshine, great visibility and a lovely cooling wind so no where nearer as hot as last week. Feeling far more comfortable.  I saw just a handful of people but numerous Marmots. No Ibex or Chamois. Flowers stunning.  On the return into the Val Saveranche I wondered up to the foot of the spectacular Herbertet peak which was even better than the Col.

ITALY & FINAL DAY

Grand Col Ferret 

Not much snow left

Martagon Lily 

Val Ferret & Grand Jorasses 

Alpine Aster

Well done the team

Final day for our big group from the USA. Today we finished off their Mini TMB with an ascent of the Grand Col Ferret and down into Val Ferret.
Great effort and big Celebrations in Courmayeur.
The Alpine flowers are just about at their best this week. New flowers in bloom almost on a daily basis now. Today's highlight,  Martagon Lily.
A great, fun trip guiding for Alpine Treks.

A.WALK INTO SWITZERLAND

Meadows near Col de Balme 

The team on Col de Balme 

Small Copper Butterfly 

Tseppes & Trient Glacier 

Not often these guys are motionless 

Another Picnic spot

Chamonix Valley 

Small White Orchid 

Trient Glacier 

Another brilliant day. Today the team walked over the Col de Balme into Trient. Going via the beautiful and neglected Tsepp Alp is far superior than the 'normal' quick up and down.

CHAMONIX VALLEY WALKS 2

Mont Blanc from Brevent 

Lac Brevent 

Team photo time

We love Reflections 

Picnic time again 

Lac Brevent at peace

Can't get enough of team photos 

Mont Blanc beers in front of Mont Blanc 

Another couple of very hot days with wall to wall sun in the Chamonix Valley. For the second walk with our big group of 24 we took the Brevent cablecar to give fantastic views of the Mont Blanc range yesterday. After many photos we descended to Lac Brevent,  just 440m of descent. The water looking inviting but no takers. I know someone who would have been straight in! We headed back up to the ridgeline for another huge group picnic with Mont Blanc as a reasonable backdrop. It was uphill to get a beer at Brevent and an easy ride down.

Ibex

Aiguillete de Argentiere 

Lac de Cheserys Solitude 

The Ladders

Off the trail

Aiguille Rouge 

Wall to wall sun 

Le Tour Glacier 

Aiguille de Chamonix 

Second time this week on the ironwork 

Aiguille Verte 

Today was the groups day off to explore Chamonix and it's array of attractions. I went for a wander up into the Aiguille Rouge for some wildlife photography. The area is a Nature Park and especially good for ibex. It's best to get off the busy trail to be in with a good chance to see these King of The Alps. Such a majestic creature. More images from my proper camera later. Plenty of birdlife around including the Snow Finch. Marmots of course! One big fat one lazing on the rocks sunbathing.  Another hot day and wall to wall blue skies.
This week I am guiding for www.alpinetreks.com

CHAMONIX VALLEY WALKS

The team of 24

Aiguille Verte 

Pic-nic above the Mer de Glace 

The wonderful Grand Balcon Nord 

Elevenses 

Mer de Glace 

Celebrating on the descent 

This week I am co-guiding a big group of folk from the USA for Alpine Treks based in the Chamonix Valley.  Mark, Blaise & myself eased our group of 24 folk into their holiday with a lovely stroll across the Grand Balcon Nord.  This fabulous walk is made very easy by using the Aiguille du Midi cablecar to start and descending via the Montenvers team at the end. It was another lovely and sunny day with cloud building up in the afternoon. Just a nudge cooler than last week thankfully. There has been some good thunderstorm activity during the last couple of nights to bring the temperatures down and making the air clear.