Three times around the Tour of Mont Blanc

Sorry it has taken me so long to post anything, I find it very hard to do so as this will push my darling Zig into second place. but this is a hiking blog so it's time. However, I won't write much this time, have to do this fast before I change my mind!

I have just spent 24 days on the trails. The weather has generally been great. Conditions were very snowy to begin with but now the TMB is almost back to normal.
The flowers are late and consequently this last week has seen exceptional flowers at around the 1500 - 2000m level.
I'm going to let the photos do the rest - but here's a quote from some delightful folks who were with me on one of the treks:
"We wanted to thank you so very much for a wonderful trek!!!  We had a fantastic time, saw amazing views, met great people and laughed a lot, learned about the Mont Blanc area, ate great food, and enjoyed great wine and beer.  You organized an amazing Tour Du Mont Blanc trek and we are very grateful to you for that!  Thanks for all your patience with us.  We will definitely be looking into your treks in the future."



Jumping for joy on the trail: warning, most of us can't do this!

Goodbye Zig, most beautiful pusscat

I am terribly sad to have to report that our beautiful Zig,Trekking in the Alps and Trekking in Provence cat, and great friend to us, died last night.
She was 18 years old and we had had the very best of times.
For those who share my love of pussycats, here she is in photos.

 

 

TREKKING IN THE ALPS HAS A BABY - TREKKING IN PROVENCE!

I'm thrilled to announce that my new additional website is now up and running, go take a look
http://www.trekkinginprovence.com/

As well as the Alps summer treks and holidays, and the winter snowshoeing, I'm now offering  walking weeks in Provence, and private guiding on a daily or weekly basis.

My first magazine cover shot!

Over the years I've had loads of articles in walking magazines but for some unfathomable reason they've never put one of my shots on the cover - until now. Hooray to Trek and Mountain who rightly claim to be the UK's leading trekking and mountaineering magazine. This mag is a breath of fresh air compared to some of the older rather staid titles on the shelves.

Take a look at the June isse (cover above) for my major article about the Tour of Mont Blanc trek.
http://www.trekandmountain.com/shop/issue-40-june-2013.html

For those of you who've already done the TMB with me you might find your photo in there and for those of you signed up for this summer you'll get an exciting taste of what's in store.
Of course the TMB and all other alpine treks should only be done with me - but you know that already, right???

Provence Hiking Week

Just finished the second Provence Hiking Week. The first one took place last year in late April, this time we chose mid May. We had a full group of 9 people, all regular Trekking in the Alps customers. Many had already met on previous trips with me and it was certainly felt like a gathering of friends.

I can't lie and say the weather was perfect because it wasn't - and isn't anywhere in Europe so far as I can see. But we had 4 hot and sunny days and then 3 mixed - ranging from cloud to light drizzle and then heavy rain to snow on the tops!

 

Everyone enjoyed the walks and since people were hiding in the shade by the 4th day of sunshine it seemed appropriate that after that the rain came!

it didn't deter us and we had a great bike ride mid week, exploring the small Provençal villages and seeing the vineyards and poppy fields close up. Roman remains were visited and also olive mills and lavender distilleries.

 

The vultures obliged with some amazing fly bys, as promised.

Here's what one person wrote at the end of the trip: "Beautiful landscapes, enticing scents, fantastic food and perfect company! Am planning my retirement as an olive farmer!".

 

Here's Provence hiking at its best:



The future should see several of these trips each year - spring and autumn. My additonal website, www.trekkinginprovence.com should be up and running by next month.

Thanks to my group for being such good models for my photos and such good company for me and each other.



Springtime in Provence

It's been a wonderful week of hot sunshine here in Provence and I feel very lucky to be free to enjoy it.

After the whiteness of winter in the Alps, these colours are a real joy.
Everything is bursting into life, the leaves on the trees get bigger by the hour and the flowers are all blooming. The wisteria is now in full flower and the air is scented.
The birds are all busy with nests and eggs.
 

It's exciting to see all the flowers and bushes that I am beginning to recognise. The flora here is a mix of alpine and mediterannean and takes is a whole new learning process for me.



 We're greeting new friends again - the pigeons that nest opposite, and of course the Egyptian vultures at the Dentelles who have come back from Africa and will stay until the end of August.

 

So that's it for now. It's raining today!