Category: fauna

Hiking trip report by site editor Rick McCharles. Day 5 of 7.

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From my ideal tent site it was a pleasant wander down into the valley of Lac de Moiry.

At the same time, an American couple hiking the Haute Route were descending from their night at this interesting farm refuge.

We crossed the Lac de Moiry dam at about the same time.

And met up at the bus stop on the other side.

We decided to cheat (again) by skipping the next pass, and bus instead to Zinal. It was an “easy” pass but I was turned off when I saw a car joy riding the switchbacks up that slope. I’ve no desire to hike where there are roads.

If you ask hikers what impressions they remember of the Alps, early in the conversation they’ll mention the cows and their loud cowbells.

Everybody loves them. I never got tired of them.

Famed Hotel Weisshorn disappointed.

The area around the hotel was under some serious construction. I’m happy I didn’t stay there. The American couple walked on to Bella Tolla cabin.

I walked from the Hotel to the next high pass. It was easy and interesting, though the typical afternoon rain began again.

Another superb hiking day.

I had supper on the other side sitting out of the rain near a giant teepee. (Europeans love North American Indian culture.) Then chased some deer away from a spot they liked to sleep upon in the trees and set up my tent.

About 4AM one of the deer was barking up a storm. Perhaps barking at my tent.

See the rest of my photos from day 5.

… on to day 6

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Hiking trip report by site editor Rick McCharles. Day 2 of 7.

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Morning dawned clear yet again.

I quickly descended from snow, rock and ice to lush alpine meadows.

When hiking I like to rise early. Put in a full hiking day of 4-6hrs. Relax for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. Then put in another 4-5hrs of hiking. Setting up the tent at around 7-8PM.

Here I am airing out the bunions at Champex-Lac.

Waiting for the bus, I stopped by the finest alpine flower garden in the Alps, Champex-Lac Alpine Garden.

Sadly in early August most of the species were already done. The bees seemed only interested in thistles.

Up high in the mountains wild flowers were still going strong. But Champex is too low, too hot.

Soon I found myself up above one of the most famous ski resorts in the world, Verbier. I skipped over 15km of valley walking by taking bus, train, train and cable car. This cheat was well worth doing.

In Summer the sprawling ski town seemed to be more fixed on mountain biking than hiking, however.

I departed as quickly as possible for the wonderful Sentier des Chamois, a traverse high above the valley. Some exposure. But good opportunities to see Ibex and Chamois.

Late in the day I spotted another Chamois on a very attractive chunk of snow.

Normally very shy, this Chamois hung out with me for many hours … once I set up my tent on his snow supply.

See the rest of my photos from day 2.

… on to day 3

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