I'm reading an outdoor travelers guide called The Alps by Marcia Lieberman. Since we'll be in the Valaisian Alps to begin our trip, I picked out the areas that she strongly suggested. I then passed them on to Frank for his comments. Looks like we're on the same wave length ...
Val ferret
- I have driven there but not hiked it. There are several routes listed in my detailed guide to hiking Valais which is written by a crazy hiking Englishman named Kev Reynolds. He is really good at this stuff.
Val de Bagnes
- I have been there a week ago. I was near Mauvoisoin. I began a hike to the Grand Combin which would loop past a glacier and end up at a hut and then onwards to Mauvasion. I really want to see the Grand Combin ! I hiked for 90 minutes uphill and was enjoying it and had to turn back due to a thunderstorm. This, however, was made into an advantage when I went into a small hotel for a cup of soup and ended up speaking to the waitress who also turned out to be the part owner with her parents. She spoke English and grew up there and knew every trail ! So told me some shorter routes to get into the Grand Combin. She also told me other hikes in the area. It is an area of villages with a different feel than other valleys I have been. Interesting. Amazing. In its way. By the way, Martigny - an awesome location ! Interesting small city with a propensity for art. I hear there is a great exhibit there now.
AROLLA
- AWESOME ! I have been there a few days ago. I hiked half of the path to the Aigilles Rouge. It was beautiful. I do not see anything extremely advanced about it but maybe the guide book writer thought so. The area is tremendous. I really liked Arolla and had planned for us and my sister to spend two or three nights there. A small village which is very oriented to the more fit and the hikers. An amazing drive to reach Arolla. I had planned to hike to the Pra Gras.
- My guidebook has many hikes in this area.
Val d'Herens
- The entire area of Val d'Herens is fabulous. Evolene is a fasinating village albeit somewhat touristy. But very much worth seeing. I have stayed there a few years ago and have explored it in my recent visits to Val d-herens. I had planned for you and I to spend much time in the area because there are no ski resorts mangling the hillsides and there are many spectacular trails. One I want to do goes to a spot called "Col Breona".
Val Annivers
- St Luc is in the Val Annivers I believe. I have been there just before I met you and Dwayne ! I hiked the route you mention. BEAUTIFUL. Many gorgeous hikes are obvious in that valley. It is next to Val-d'Herens and not far from Zermatt's valley the Mattertal.
- The trail from St. Luc to Zinal is the same trail they run a famous mountain race on which I aspire to run some day. It goes from SIERRE in the Rhone valley to Zinal. 32 kilometers almost all uphill. I walked half of it before. The disadvantage was there was no stream along the way and I did not take enough water. I remember that because it was hot and sunny ! Yes ! We will go there. Many small villages clinging to hillsides as places for beginning walks.
- Many walks, in detail , in my guidebook. I had figured on some of these as day hikes and others - I was hoping we might choose some hut to hut overnights in the area ! There are portions of the famous trails called the Haute Route from Zermatt to Chamonix and so forth.