Valais @en
now browsing by tag
Valais : Herens Valley, Thyon, Bagnes Valley and Otemma Glacier
After my two days in the Anniviers Valley, I change valleys and join the Herens Valley.
I sleep in Arolla and decide to go up to Mont Dolin the next morning, which peaks just below 10,000 feet elevation.
1. Break below the Riedmatten Pass, after 2,300 feet of altitude gain.
2. At the Forclette Pass, just below Mont Dolin, with the Bertol Teeth in the background..
3. In the afternoon, I go up to Ferpecle which I haven’t visited for a long time….
4. An impressive waterfall flows from the Mont Miné Glacier, attesting to the heavy melting this summer.
5. This small gravel bar formed by the Ferpecle dam is truly photogenic!
6. On the way back down to La Sage where I left VivaLaVida, the hamlet of Seppec.
7. La Sage in late afternoon.
8. Its chapel.
9. I sleep on the banks of the Borgne River, in peace and quiet…
10. … and enjoy a picnic spot to make a campfire.
11. The next morning, I climb to Thyon 2000 with VLV, then to Grepon Blanc by mountain bike. The last few yards are done on foot..
12. Summit of Grepon Blanc with a view of the surrounding 13,000 ft peaks.
13. At the end of the day, I break camp and head up to the Bagnes Valley. The next day, I set off by bike from Bonatchiesse to reach the Chanrion refuge. I follow the shores of Lake Mauvoisin.
14. Under the refuge, an unnamed pond…
15. The Chanrion refuge with, in the background on the right, the summit of the Grand Combin.
16. As I go back down, I notice a small road leading south. I decide to go and explore it.
17. It leads to a water intake on the Dranse de Bagnes. I leave my bike there and continue on foot to discover the splendid Otemma Valley and the glacier of the same name.
18. After 3 miles on foot, it’s time to turn back regretfully because I would have liked to continue to the glacier tongue. This valley is really wild, I didn’t see anyone there.
19. Going back down…
20. Shortly before returning to VivaLaVida, the bridge on the old Mauvoisin road.
And that’s it for this Valais outing. I did nearly 200 miles of mountain biking in 5 days and totaled almost 23,000 feet of elevation gain, enough to get some fresh air! 🙂
The next article will show you our little autumn vacation.
Thank you for your loyalty to this little blog! 😉
Valais : Anniviers Valley
While Emile continues his vacation with his mom, I go enjoying the summer in the Swiss Alps by doing a few days of mountain biking in Valais.
1. Arriving at the end of the day in the valley, I walk up the valley towards the Petit Mountet refuge.
2. The Navizence River at sunset, downstream from the Zinal glacier.
3. The next day, long 44 miles loop with a 5.5 hour ride. Views of central Valais from the heights of Chandolin..
4. The upper Anniviers Valley from the heights of St-Luc.
5. Mountain lake above Plan Torgnon.
6. …
7. I make a detour to discover the famous Hotel Weisshorn.
8. Going up towards Zinal, above Ayer.
9. View of Zinal and the final downhill.
10. I go sleeping above the Moiry lake.
11. Châteaupré Lake in early morning.
12. Second mountain bike outing to Lake Autanne.
13. Alpine summer view…
14. Launa lake.
15. Pass of Launa, a mecca of the Grand Raid VTT event.
16. From the Pass of Launa looking East.
That’s it for my first two days of mountain biking. More to come soon!
Valaisan getaway (end)
Continuation and end of our great valaisan weekend…
1. Gentle sunrise light over the summits.
2. Chapel above Vercorin.
3. Our great camp spot in golden larches…
4. View over Upper Valais.
VivaLaVida then brought us back safely and I prepared her for wintering. She will be back soon… 😉
In the meantime, I will soon show here some pictures of another and different getaway. Stay tunned ! 😀
Valaisan getaway (continuation)
After the Sanetsch Pass, I wanted to show Isabelle the Aletsch Glacier, the largest of the Alps. So we went to the Upper Valais.
1. Boondocking down the Furggen pass.
But in this season, the Eggishorn cable car was already closed. We thus went to visit Brig City before going further…
2. Brig castle.
3. Walls…
4. Bridge…
5. In the old town.
6. Emile still loves VivaLaVida!
7. We then drove to the Anniviers Valley.
8. Over the Rhone Valley…
9. … and the Rechy Cove.
10. Quite sunset…
The end of ou long weekend still to come soon… 😉
Valaisan getaway and… Happy New Year 2018 !
In early November, we went to make VivaLaVida discover some corners of the Valais, an Alpine canton of Switzerland.
Departure for the Santesch Pass, at 7’200 feet elevation, and its splendid lapiaz. The recent snow stopped our way at the pass, beautiful snowdrifts cutting the road down to Lake Senin.
1. Sunrise without many colors…
2. VivaLaVida at the pass, where we slept.
3. Eis on limestone.
4. View to the South over great alpine peaks: Dent Blanche (White Tooth), Matterhorn, Zinal Rothorn, Obergabelhorn, Dent d’Hérens (Herens Tooth)…
5. Life clings…
6. First snow left patchworks on the screes…
7. Snowfields…
8. After breakfast, the sun came up and we went for a walk with family.
9. The big “lapiaz”, a geological curiosity created after the removal of the Tsanfleuron glacier, is gorgeous.
10. Mount Gond.
11. Breathtaking panorama!
12. Near Lake Senin.
13. Family selfie 😉
14. VivaLaVida on the little road…
15. The tunnel to access the pass: 10 feet 7 inches, just enough for VLV!
16. When the mountain crushes the summer camp of Tsandra.
December the 31st, it’s time for us to send you our very best wishes for 2018! We wish you only the best: good health, stars in your eyes, beautiful trips here or elsewher, and lots of new enriching adventures.
See you next year for the continuation of VivaLaVida’s adventures! 😀
D5 Creation