This is it - winter is finally here

After several false starts it seems like winter really is here this time. Even though yesterday it rained as high up as 2000m, this turned to snow overnight and today everything is white again. There must be a huge amount at higher elevations and this morning we were awakened by the booms of the avalanche detonators at the nearby ski stations - this is a sure sign that the season has commenced.

So it's time to get out the snowshoes and the skis.

The animals have come down from the higher slopes and there are animal tracks each morning in the garden. This week we've been treated to the sight of two huge stags (red deer) who have discovered an abundance of apples lying in the snow under a wild apple tree nearby - their very own "all you can eat buffet"!

My snowshoeing starts just before Christmas with various private bookings, and the open weeks and 4 day trips begin 23 January. Most trips still have places available, although the Aosta week is now full. And my free days for private guiding are filling up fast.

Go to http://www.trekkinginthealps.com/ for more info. The dates and prices are on the calendar page as a downloadable PDF.

It's time to start making tracks!