Saturday, 29 July 2017

TRIATHLON TRAINING

Swimming, Loch Morlich

Biking below Meall a' Bhuacaille

Run, An Slugain




The odd technical bit

Some sun over Loch Morlich

Rain clearing by late morning
Karen and I were out today training for the upcoming Aviemore Triathlon. Well when I say 'we' I mean I was along for a bike ride while Karen actually did the 3 disciplines! We set off in rain this morning, biking from the house to Loch Morlich where the event will start. Therefore we did more than is expected on the day :) It dried up by late morning and the clouds lifted off the Cairngorms. A nice, stiff breeze to keep the midges at bay.
So here are the stats: 750m swim followed by 12km off road bike ride, 8km off road run  (plus 25km bike there and back) & finishing off at the The Glenmore cafe making it a carbon and calorie neutral day out:)

Tuesday, 25 July 2017

WEST WAS BEST

Fiacaill Buttress

Sun hitting the buttresses of Coire an t-Sneachda

Coire an t-Sneachda

On the Fiacaill Ridge

Atmospheric cloud on the Fiacaill Ridge

Reflections in Coire an Lochain

A deserted Fiacaill Ridge


Lots of Meadow Pipits today
The summer months of July and August are always hit and miss with weather. I do enjoy the Spring and Autumn periods much more but when the sun does shine and the air clarity is good then the Highlands are beautiful. The west coast seemed to fair best today. Over here in the Cairngorms we began with some dull, cloudy and drizzly conditions first thing this morning. By late morning though it brightened up and there were some nice breaks in the cloud. It was lovely to be back home and a wander about in the Northern Corries. Coire Sneachda was deserted and the Fiacaill a Coire Sneachda too. Some lovely atmospheric conditions as I worked my way up the coire and scrambling along the ridge. Lots of meadow pipits everywhere on the hill today, ptarmigan not so many and elusive. Downhill again tomorrow with a band of wind and rain.

Thursday, 20 July 2017

THE WALKERS HAUTE ROUTE, CHAMONIX - ZERMATT

The Grand Combin from the Sentier de Chamois
On the 8th of July 2017 I set off with a fun bunch of 10 folk for one of the most spectacular and stunning multi day treks in Europe. The Walkers Haute route stretchers for over 180km with varied mountain terrain and views of the highest peaks in the Alps. Ten days of Alpine splendour, this was the 11th time guiding this route and it never fails to inspire.

DAY 1 COL DE  BALME
So far the summer in the Alps has been pretty good, too hot really. Unfortunately there was a wee blip in the beautiful weather for the start of our trek. The Col de Balme is one of the easiest days on the tour.  The team soon made short work of getting to the Swiss border in time for lunch. We took the more scenic route down to Trient, just before the rain. Well timed.

The team at the Fenetre Arppette


DAY 2 FENETRE ARPPETTE
The first big day of the trek, the Spectacilar Fenetre Arppette. This 2000m climb to the narrow col goes up close to the Trient Glacier and some wonderful rock, meadow and glacial scenery. There is also a 2000m decent down the other side to Champex. One of the many days you can expect to see the animal of the Alps, The Ibex.
Ibex taking it easy on the rocks below the col
Trient Glacier
The decent through the boulder field on the other side
DAY 3, CHAMPEX-MONT FORT
The weather gods were kind to us yesterday. We had a mainly dry day and managed to get some lovely sunny spells. Shortly after getting into Champex a massive downpour hit the streets of this wee town coupled with a few claps of thunder and lightening. That was really the only rain we saw, from now on the weather was sun and warmth and fine views!
Evening light at Mont Fort Refuge
The route now descends into the pastoral Val de Bagnes and passess through the towns of Sanbrencher and La Chables. We then took the cablecar up to Ruinettes above the ski resort of Verbier. From here it is a short and easy walk up to the wonderfully perched Cabane du Mont Fort. The first of two nights in mountain refuges and the start of probably the finest two days of the entire Haute Route.
Sunsetting over the Val de Bagnes
DAY 4, MONT FORT - CABANE PRAFLEURI
Sunrise on Mont Blanc range
Magnificent views from the Sentier de Chamois
An early start for a big 9 hour day across some of the wildest and highest stretches of the WHR. Three cols to cross and splendid scenery at every turn. The first part of the trail contours the mountain side to the Col de Termin. This section of path is named the 'Sentier de Chamois', and almost guaranteed to see these wonderful creatures.
Chamois
Lac Louvie and Grand Combin on the traverse
Rosa Blanche from Col de Prafleuri
Descending from Col de Prafleuri
Unlike previous summers in The Alps, there is very little in the way of snow on the higher cols. Indeed there was hardly anything to negotiate this year. Usually there is still a fair amount of  old snow lying on the Col de Louvie and the 'step' down to the lakes on the way up to Col de Prafleuri. It has been a dryish winter and a very hot Spring/early summer. The team were finished at the Prafleuri Refuge around 4.30pm, the earliest I have ever had a group finish on this stage.

DAY 5, PRAFLEURI - AROLLA
Early morning on the Col de Choux, Lac Dix
Second day in the 'wilderness' and two more cols today as we get close up views of the diminishing glacier below Mont Blanc de Cheillon. The second of the cols, the col de Reidmatten is the steepest and gnarliest col of the entire trek. The alternative col de Chevres which is adjacent to the Reidmatten is much steeper and has a set of ladders to get to the col, it's ugly and the Reidmatten is the 'classic' way to go. The Arolla side of the col is like dropping down into a different world, much greener and some wonderful meadows on an easier trail.
Mont Blanc de Cheillon
Meadows above Arolla
Mount Cenus Bellflower
DAY 6, AROLLA - LA SAGE
The easiest day on the tour. Mostly downhill with just a short 600m ascent. A welcome 'rest' day after two big efforts on the previous sections. Today is a nice stroll down to Lac Bleu then into the Val d' Herens before we finish the day up at La Sage.
The peaceful hamlet of La Sage above the Val d'Herens
 DAY 7, LA SAGE - ZINAL

No rest up as we have another big day with 2000m of sacent over two cols. The Col de Torrent and the Col de Sorebois. Most of the cols on the WHR are just a smidgen below 3000m. By now the group were quite used to the big ascents and descents. All the rough sections are now behind us. Today's route is all on excellent trails.
Les Hauderes in the Val d'Herens with the Pigne d'Arolla above
Lunch time spot, Weisshorn to the left, Dent Blanche to the right
Col de Torrent

Wonderful cloud formations
DAY 8, ZINAL - GRUBEN
We cross over into the Germanic speaking valleys today as we nudge ever closer to Zermatt. Gruben in the Turtmantal is a tint community that only live here in the summer months. One of the few valleys in The Swiss Alps that has no public transport and no skiing paraphernalia. Lovely and peaceful with just one place of accommodation at the Scwarzhorn Hotel. The days getting easier and shorter now, only an 8 hour effort required.
Leaving the Val d'Annivers

The Bishorn in view on our descent into the Turtmental
Alpine Rock Jasmin
DAY 9, GRUBEN - ST. NIKLAUS
Another stunning day, just the one col of the Augsbord Pass. Today's highlights are the first views of the Mattertal -The 'Matterhrn Valley'. For me this day is also special as it is one of the few places in The Alps that the very rare King of the Alps grows. This beautiful cushion plant flowers for just a few weeks in the height of summer, just below today's col.
The Mattertal
King of the Alps
DAY 10, TASCHALP - ZERMATT
Grand views from the Europaweg

The Weisshorn from Taschalp

Tasch and the Mattertal


The Matterhorn, of course
Final day and journeys end at Zermatt. The Europaweg from Grachan to Zermatt traverses high above the Mattertal. Over the last few years there have been several huge rockfall and landslides damaging and making this path unwalkable. This year the section from Taschalp to Zermatt is now open with some major footpath work been done. The rest of the Eropaweg is due to open in just a few weeks time. In the meantime we still savoured some amazing views of the Matterhorn as the cloud dispersed in the late morning heat. What a way to finish and what a fun, fit and enthusiastic group this week. With an age range from 47 - 69 they whizzed along with ease. I have two more WHR to guide again this summer, can't wait! I was guiding for KE Adventures this week.

Tuesday, 18 July 2017

ZERMATT, MATTERHORN & JOURNEY'S END

The team on the Europaweg 
Weisshorn from Taschalp
No caption required
Europaweg and Mattertal 
Findeln
The team, looking fresh!
Final day of trekking on the Haute Route.  Day 10 and yet another spectacular walk with wonderful views. The Europaweg from Grachan to Taschalp is still not officialy open, that is until 20 August.  Looking forward to seeing the multi million Swiss Franc Bridge which has the major construction job to be completed before its once more 'safe' to walk. So for our final section of the Haute Route we started at Taschalp today. From the word go it is views and photos every inch of the way. We extended the walk into Zermatt as much as possible by walking to Sunnega and Findeln. Tradition states with my groups that we finish at the church in Zermatt. Top weather again. Well done my team of 10 who have an average age of 58-69 and breezed along every day. Fabulous!  This trek I was guiding for KE Adventure.