Mountain Adventure Holidays
The week long snowshoe trip in the Valais region of Switzerland is in full swing. We have had the best week of the winter so far in terms of weather; absolutely scorching sunshine, blue skies, and very little wind. Our team have had some great days in the mountains with trips so far this week to Vicheres, Swiss Val Ferret, Mont de l'Arpille, and the Grand St Bernard Monastery. The Monastery was, as always, a wonderful experience and a real haven of peace and reflection in the mountains. For nearly a thousand years the monks of the world famous hospice have offered hospitality and respite to weary travellers, and our team was no exception! The sweet tea served by Brother Frederick on arrival was especially welcome after the long climb and the heat of the day. I think the views we have had this week have been just incredible with some wonderful ascents of Cols and summits offering Mont Blanc, Mont Velan, the Grand Combin, the Grand Jorasses, and the Gran Paradiso to name just a few. With a day still to go the team are already looking to return next year. If you are interested in joining us get in touch!
Last week saw the successful completion of the 3rd ever Mont Blanc Snowshoe week, led by Tracks and Trails in association with KE Adventure Travel. So what makes a trip a success? Well, for me, it's a combination of several factors. For this week, in particular, the group dynamics has to rate highly on the list - a group of 5, 2 guys/3 girls - all with different and interesting careers, lifestyles, interests and different walking CV's and Rob Wymer, an Aspirant International Mountain Leader, out gaining snowshoe experience with groups in preparation for his leader assessment. Our common denominator - walking in the mountains in winter!
Secondly, as mentioned so many times on our blog to date, the SNOW! Snowshoeing does happen to work very well in snow, not to mention fresh powder and boy did we get our fare share. After our first day up at Chalet Loriaz we had continuous snow for 3 days - which was a perfect opportunity for everyone to have the chance to break trail, learn about essential avalanche safety, route choices and staying safe by reading and assessing the terrain on route. Then following the snowy days we had some blue sky days....all in a weeks work - it's a hard job to beat!
I would also like to mention, which was voted by our team as the best day of the week, our summit of Mont Arpille at 2085m which is actually on Swiss turf. And if that wasn't enough for one day it was followed by a (voluntary....) night-snowshoe to the rustic Savoyard restaurant and Auberge of La Boerne at the hamlet of Tre le Champs where we refueled with 'tarteflette', a local dish made with creamy Reblochon cheese! So if this type of week appeals to you we still have places on our March - Mont Blanc Snowshoe Week.
Catching up on admin is enough to drive anyone out the door! As a goal to get through the emails I organised an afternoon snowshoe with Lindsay, Mark and Cynthia. We saw yet more snow fall in the valley today and I guess some might decide that it's best to stay in on a cloudy/snowy day but in actual fact snowshoeing is an ideal way to enjoy those less than sunny days! Whilst the snow falls in exposed areas it can feel, gloomy and bleak but if you stick to the trees then you can enjoy nature at work and watch the snowfall whilst having the forest canopy as your umbrella.
Our route took us up to the Glacier des Bossons where we had close-up 'wintery views' of the tongue of blue ice that dominates the village of the same name, Les Bossons. The Bossons glacier is famous for several reasons, it descends a total of 3600m, which makes it the largest icefall in Europe, it advances at a rate of 1m each day plus it's margin reaches the lowest altitudes in Europe.
So we walked and talked our way through the woods to a viewpoint where we enjoyed coffee and chocolate. Our 2h30 round trip was enough to blow the cobwebs away and feel like you've got some exercise - not to mention catching up on the Chamonix gossip along the way.
Been off today searching for more interesting snow shoe routes, and had one of the best days out ever - blue skies, powder, and stunning views. Just popped along the road this morning to Liddes in the Swiss Valais region and tackled a route which I had never attempted before on a ridge up to the Creta de Vella. It appeared in a new snowshoe guide which is just out and I thought I would check it out. What a wonderful ascent through the forest with trees coated in light fluffy powder snow. Wonderful views of the Grand Combin, Mont Dolent, the Grand Jorasses and even Mont Blanc sneaking in on the far horizon - absolutely stunning. After a long climb a stop for lunch in the sun and then back down through the powder with the snow flying past my waist. A stunning gem of a route and more or less on my doorstep - what could be better! Snow conditions are definitely the best for years and more to come by the looks of the forecast.
The Adventure Show BBC2 Scotland - dont miss it! BBC 2 Scotland Sunday 22 February 06.05pm and Sky Channel 990
What a day it's been - blue skies, snowy mountains and a biting cold wind on the summit, a day when you are glad to be alive and in Scotland! I left the Alps a week ago to nip back to Scotland to do some media work for the BBC. It included today's expedition into the Monadliath mountains behind Newtontmore for The Adventure Show which is broadcast on BBC2 Scotland each month.
Over the last year I have, on several occassions, worked as a television Director with Cameron McNeish who is often referred to as the UK's best known hill walker! I have to say the man is a treat to work with and I know no one else who has so much genuine enthusiasm for Scotlands' mountains and is prepared to share that enthusiasm so eloquently. Our intention had been to travel to Schiehallion in Highland Perthshire but heavy snow and blizzard conditions put paid to that. After several cups of tea in my kitchen, calls to the Police asking about roads, and calls to the camerman Paul Diffley to find out how far up the A9 he had got, we decided to film in our own backyard in the stunning Glen Banachor.
The Monadliaths are a great rolling mass of heather and bog and perhaps lack the sharpness of the west coast mountains, but give them a covering of snow and they are transformed into a glittering arctic landscape which is home to mountain hares, grouse, snow buntings, golden eagle, otters and red deer. As Director I am responsible for making sure the shoot happens and that we get the necessary material for the TV feature. I had serious doubts about shooting anything and of getting any views, but the more cups of tea we had the clearer the sky became until the clouds parted to promise a good day. In fact, it was stunning and despite the exhaustion of plodding through thigh deep snow drifts to climb A'Chailleach, 930m, we were exhilerated - 1. because of the beauty of the mountains, and 2. because we had pulled it out of the bag despite a rocky start to the day.
Best of all Cameron had opted to wear snowshoes for the filming. It will, I am sure, be the first time that someone has been filmed making a journey on snowshoes in Scotland for national TV. Unfortunately, and dont laugh, but I didnt have any as all mine were in the Alps. On more than one occassion Mr McNeish bounded past saying "aye, you should get yourself a pair of snowshoes!" I nearly tossed my teddy out of the pram! The great joy for me was that he was another snowshoe convert and had heartily embraced this ancient form of winter travel. The fact he was telling his many thousands of fans through the medium of TV that they were to be highly recommended was great.
The picture shows cameraman Paul Diffley, myself, and Cameron on the summit of A'Chailleach. A great place to be on a blue sky day in Scotland.
PS The Adventure Show feature on snowshoeing in Scotland will be broadcast on BBC 2 Scotland at the end of February. I will try and let you know exactly when once I have the details
As a guide there is nothing better than having clients that are up for adventures, want to reach high points and bag peaks all in the sunshine! What more could you ask for? That way my office 'window' has a fantastic new view every day. Lindsay and I have just finished a fabulous week in the very snowy alps with Scott and Carole. This was just a few days ago up at Chalet Loriaz, above Vallorcine at 2020m, where we enjoyed wonderful views over lunch.
Some folk have to worry about their commute to work with leaves on the train-line or dicing with the M25 - but this is what holds us up in the morning! This was taken an hour ago in our Swiss village, Finhaut, which is just along the road from Chamonix. The clearing process makes a great warm-up to start the day, but not advisable in high-heels! We’ve had a huge amount of snow fall in the past 48 hours and it continues as I write…more forecast throughout the week!
What a day - 2009 dawned to blue skies, and 30 cm of fresh powder! Julia and I headed off to Vicheres, a tiny resort of just three lifts in Switzerland, to celebrate our joint birthdays. Neither of our mothers would have had a particularly great Hogmanay the years we were born as I arrived on the 1st and Julia on the 4th, though I am sure Julia would point out there are quite a few years between those two events! One of the reasons we set up Tracks and Trails is because we are both so nosy - always wanting to see what's over the next mountain and round the next corner, though maybe 'inquisitive' sounds better.
Anyway, its one of the reasons we are always seeking out new routes in places such as Vicheres where hearing an English voice is a rarity, and lift queues are virtually unheard of. The overnight powder had created a good layer on the hard packed snow underneath, enough to have us squealing with delight as we bounced our way down the mountain. After a few runs we put on our 'skins' and went off touring over to the Bec Rond area - a small and inviting summit - where there were absolutely no tracks. The views from this ridge are absolutely stunning - Mont Dolent, Mont Velan, the Grand Combin and many more. The ridge from Plan Monnay is a popular snowshoe walk, quite understandable given the viewpoint it provides - 360 degree panorama! We finished off our day by an off piste descent in untracked perfect powder until we reached the tree line at which point we found a steep descent down a forest clearing. Much fun was had coping with the deepest fluff of the day and attempts not to wipe out a spruce tree created much hilarity! Hopefully, you might join us for snowshoeing at Vicheres one of these days?
Meantime, from Julia and myself - very best wishes for 2009, we hope it's a good one for you.
It's just a few days before Julia heads back to the UK for Christmas and leaves behind the snowy alpine landscape, so off we set for a girls ski tour along with friend Cathy O'Dowd. We piled into the car with a selection of maps and a general plan to get some fresh air and exercise. Heading down into the Rhone Valley from our wee mountain village we swung right and in the direction of Bourg St Piere in the Swiss Valais region with the intention of heading up to the world famous Grand St Bernard Monastery. This is where the St Bernard dog has its roots and where the breed was first associated with mountain rescue. The monks at the monastery, which is on a high col at over 2,400m, were fundamental to the establishment of the St Bernard as a rescue dog. It all began with Barry who seemed to be very good at sniffing out bodies buried in the snow by avalanches, and sort of grew from there....if you want the full story you need to join us for a night at the monastery!! We can snowshoe up via a col or summit and then spend the night in this historic hospice and snowshoe back the next morning.
Anyway, I digress! Today we were not so lucky with the weather as on the way up the conditions were decidedly 'Scottish' though not enough to put the three of us off. After a couple of hours the welcome sight of the monastery came into view. For over a thousand years the monks here on the pass have welcomed weary travellers and today was no exception! In winter the only way to reach the monastery is on ski touring skis or snowshoes which gives it a wonderfully isolated feel. I must say that the cold was soon banished with a bowl of soup prepared by the 'Brothers'. We were then greeted with blue skies and sunshine as a small weather miracle seemed to have occurred while we were enjoying the soup! We finished our day with a ski down to the car, enjoying wonderful views and a very atmospheric afternoon with mist still drifting around the tops.
We can't quite believe it, but the snow has arrived well ahead of schedule and the conditions for snowshoeing and cross country skiing are fantastic. Julia and I have been out on the cross country ski tracks over the last two days and have been having great fun perfecting technique. We spent a great day today introducing Kimberly and Thomas, two American friends, to the world of cross country. We spent a day on the tracks at Argentiere in the Chamonix Valley and had a real giggle trying out technique and sliding around. Julia has some tricks up her sleeve to make it all fun and we even had the equivalent of a three-legged race on skis. Julia and I managed to win and I have to admit there was an element of 'competition' to the race. We were in reality recording a webcast for you to listen to so that you can get an idea of what it's like to join Julia for a day on the tracks. I am hoping that within the next few days I will have edited the material and have it loaded onto the site for you to enjoy. We really want to make our site interactive so that even before you come on holiday with us you can experience in a 'virtual' world what it's like to join us for a cross country ski day out.