Hiking Day 6 - Grande Dixence to Arolla

No rest for the weary! 8 hours of extreme hiking with 2700' ascent and 2000' descent. We had some rock tunnels to travel through, we herded some angry cows blocking our path, plenty more boulders, and steep terrain with lots of mud, loose rock and chains to hold onto! No ladders for this hiking group! Sunny and beautiful. At the summit we could see our final destination off in the distance . Arolla is a cute little town with a charming hotel du glacier. We are well cared for. Enjoy some pics!

Hiking Day 5 - Cabane de Louvie to Grande Dixence

Seriously! I haven't been able to blog because after this hike i was crying in the corner and sucking my thumb!!! We hiked for 10 hours over two passes (seemed liked three...) through rain, sleet, snow and finally sun! We hiked boulders, a glacier, through streams, scree slopes, a vertical mud trail as thin as half your boot holding onto chains and snow...need i drone on??? We saw the most amazing flora and fauna. Our final descent took us to the largest dam in europe - Dam de Dixence. What a day, what a day - every walk on the stairmaster and training run and hike came into play today! Enjoy some pics!

Hiking Day 4 - From Verbier to Lac de Louvie

Me and my new Verbier ibex friend is the second pic! What a gorgeous hike up to the hut of Cabane de Louvie. We hiked to 9000' with a 1200' descent - 6 hours of hiking. The hut... 16 people sleepin' bunk style, eating family style, playing cards and taking "shot" showers...(1 coin gets you 4 shots of 30 second medium hot water)...had to borrow soap and a towel! All of our packs were weighing in over 35 lbs. because we were packing for two days and expecting snow the next day...the "longest day" of our trip.

Hiking Day 3 - the Bovine Path

Ok we are either delirious from the Swiss fresh air, the magical views or from the daily 8 hour hikes....we now don't know what day it is or how many passes we have to reach the Matterhorn.
Due to weather we did not hike the Trient Glacier today, instead we hiked the Bovine Path - (did you know that every herd has a queen, she wears the biggest bell) we traveled from Col de la Forclaz - to Verbier - 2500' ascent - 1000' descent.
Might miss a day of blogging tomorrow
... Big ascent tomorrow 5000'- Hut night and two passes the next day - all in predicted rain - rain pants packed! Stayed tuned! Enjoy some pics from today.

Hiking Day 2 - We are safe

Thank you for all the emails of concern today! Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who were lost and their families.
Today we hiked over the border, no passports needed though. Chamonix to Col de Balme - 3000' ascent and 1900' decent, passing the heifers, cheese farms and striding along side the great Trient Glacier.
Toes and knees all still attached and working. :)
Enjoy some pics.

Hiking Day 1 - Chamonix - local hike

8 hours of hiking and 2000' ascent...from sunny in a t-shirt one minute to winter gear the next.
What goes up must come down. Feet are in good condition...
Fondue for dinner at La serac!!!
Enjoy a few pics!

We have arrived!

Audrey, Chris and jeanine safe and sound and somewhat time adjusted! Off to find our guide and make the trip to Chamonix.