It's been a week of very varying conditions. Over in the Aosta Valley in Italy, where I was with my group, there was extremely heavy snowfall last weekend and consequently lots of deep snow and a high risk of avalanche. Making the track on snowshoes proved to be quite a challenge some days - where are all the other people when you need them? Most days we didn't get to say "Buongiorno" to anyone!
However, despite not always getting to our objective, this gave us some great days in wonderful snowy alpine scenery, untouched by anything other than animals tracks.
It was generally agreed that the mountains are to be savoured not conquered and what we lost in "summit experience" we gained in snow fun and wildlife sightings.
On one outing we saw chamois, ibex and foxes, all close enough for us to sit and watch, but undisturbed by our presence. What a privilege!
Sadly, it was also a week that saw several avalanche deaths in the Alps. It's proving to be quite a bad year as the snowpack has been so variable - the temperature has fluctuated enormounsly these last few days, from rain last weekend to freezing cold and windy conditions by Friday. Today, whilst it is beautiful and sunny here, the south of France is under snow.
The beauty of the mountains gives us all energy and strength, but we need to remember that summits are not a given, turning back is sometimes the hardest decision to make, but it's important to realise that just being outside in these conditions is fantastic - and we certainly had a lot of fun just getting as far as we could!
