Staying safe.

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!

Great rolling conditions

Surely by now any informed hiker knows about snowshoeing and how it really is The Very Best Way to Enjoy the Alps in Winter? Those crisp cold mornings spent hiking up through the silent snow-muffled forest, then emerging in sunshine to 360° views from the Alps. Usually we continue on up to reach a summit or two before bounding down the fresh powder slopes back to a well-earned beer or hot chocolate in the nearest bar.



All that's been well-documented. But there's far more to enjoying snowshoeing than that!

We're in the midst of the Winter Olympics and so acrobatics have been the order of the day



and the Snowshoe Roll is something everyone should try - at least just once.

indeed, probably several times.

Conditions are superb, it's warmed up a bit, we have fresh powder most days, what could be better! Let's hope it lasts. And if in the distant future Snowshoeing becomes an Olympic Sport - Trekking in the Alps will be putting forward a team.

Great conditions for snowshoeing!

Well I've had a great week with a great group! The snow conditions have been really good for snowshoeing, and probably for skiing too although you had to be lucky to avoid the wind blown areas. Some days were pretty foggy but this doesn't really bother us on snowshoes as we can go in the forest and still have a good hike.

When people come to the Alps for their first time on snowshoes it's a huge voyage of discovery, from the techniques of actually walking in the snow, to learning about avalanche risk and safe travel, to the glorious reality that as well as a way to get into the mountains in winter, snowshoeing is just FUN!!

As my group this week became more confident in the snow and with each other the fun levels rose each day, encouraged by a couple of confirmed snowshoers who already knew the deal.

By the end of Thursday there were requests for lots of downhill for the last day which would not have been the case a few days earlier.

And the last day obliged with slopes of fabulous untracked powder, just waiting for us and our raquettes.

One person told me "Hilary, I haven't had as much fun as I've had this week for a very long time".

How good is that???

A magical winter wonderland - at last!

Well it's been a week of very odd weather here. We've gone from freezing cold with high winds, to heavy snow last Monday creating havoc on the roads in the space of a couple of hours to pouring rain as high as 2000m the next day! The main road in Vallorcine became a river and avalanches roared down the valley slopes, closing the road to Vallorcine for several days this week.
But we could still snowshoe, albeit a bit damply. Once again we found that snowshoeing was one activity that could be done regardless of the weather and whilst it was a bit depressing to set off in the rain, this soon because snow at altitude and the snow under-raquette remained surprisingly good. Some views would have been nice....but the snowy forest was pretty.

Nevertheless the numer of times I have snowshoed in the rain during the last 19 years here could be counted on one hand - and two of those times was this week!

Then yesterday it all came good - big snowflakes were falling all day and soon we had a good half metre of fresh. Everything was white and beautiful, a magical winter wonderland. What a great way to start 2010!

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!

Is this it? Has winter really arrived now?

Well after a cold snap in October we had a fantastic week of hot (yes hot!) sunny weather. It was really like summer again - what a treat. We were climbing high up on the Perrons cliffs and were down to T shirts. Luckily we made the most of it - because this week all that changed and the lovely green world we knew has changed to white.

Okay so there are some good points - sunset views of the mountains, always super at this time of year, and even better when the mountains are plastered as now; and of course those glaciers need filling in before the winter season really gets going.

But it's always a shock when the first proper snow comes - time to put the snow tyres on the car, sharpen the skis and brush off the snowshoes, stock up with red wine for those long winter days when Vallorcine is cut off from the rest of the world (allegedly).....

Anyway we are now more or less in winter mode and we know there will be less of this:

and a lot more of this:

And this:

And this:

But hopefully not too much of this:

Hope to see you in the snow - come do a trip: www.trekkinginthealps.com

Back from holidays and autumn is here

Well, after a great month away in the USA, it's nevertheless good to get back to the Alps. There is a solid layer of snow above 2500m as we found out to our cost last week on a ridge climb. Fabulous views though. The trees are golden and the days getting shorter.

Amazingly, high up at 2600m there was a trumpet gentian, embedded in frozen snow, giving us a last taste of summer before the winter sets in. So now we can enjoy these last relatively snow-free weeks before winter really arrives in earnest. But it's definitely time to plan for the winter - looking at flights there are still lots of good deals for the winter months, but prices will increase nearer the time.

I have lots of snowshoe trips planned and still also have some free days for private hire, but some weeks are already booked up. Take a look on my website for further details www.trekkinginthealps.com or drop me an email on info@trekkinginthealps.com