The missing link...

• 3 pylons
• the 3rd longest cable way in Switzerland 
• 2 cable cars carrying up to 125 people each
• 7 minutes and 20 seconds 

will finally bridge the 3.5 km gap between Grimentz village and Zinal mountain from December 2013.

It's been a long time in planning but work finally began this summer on the new chf 30 million ski lift. Pads for the pylons are being dug and poured and buildings have been demolished to make way for the new station in Grimentz (it even has it's own web-cam so you can check progress). So even this winter one will start to get a feel of how things will be.

The new linked area will have over 120km's of piste and will mean that some of our favourite off piste routes will be repeatable more quickly. We also hope that most people will start their day in Grimentz where bigger carparks are being made for day-trippers, thus reducing the numbers coming up to Zinal. What changes it will actually bring are still 16 months away and only time will tell ...

Lakes and Mountians

The Val d'Anniviers is dotted with lakes - from the enormous man-made Lac de Moiry, to small pools that evaporate as the summer goes on, either way they make for great lunch spots on a walk.

This week we walked to a new lake - Le Louche - at 2567m it's the upper level of the Vallon de Rechy, a hanging valley high above the Rhone. Le Louche lake feeds La Reche river that cascades down then meanders across marshy plateaus in a series of distinct steps until it reaches Rechy in the main valley at 524m. This wild valley is worth exploring in summer (as well as on skis in winter), on our walk we saw eagles, chamois and marmots and in autumn it's a favourite haunt for deer.

Here are a few of the other lakes in the Val d'Anniviers that are great to walk to... 

Alpine flower fest

Meadow of flowers above Mottec at about 2300m

Took a walk today up to higher ground above Mottec to photograph the flowers above 2000m. Here are a few we found - not all of then identified.

• Lousewort (long-beaked or Ascending)
• Arnica
• Lousewort
• Gentian
• Snow-in-Summer
• Pansy
• Primrose (Birdseye or Long Flowered)
• Trumpet Gentian
• Geranium/Cranesbill with insect
• Moonwort
• Alpine Pasque Flower
• Catsfoot
• Alpine Birdsfoot Trefoil
• Black Vanilla Orchid
• Orchid

On the way back down we came across some Alpenrose starting to flower.

Blooming marvelous

Everywhere is a mass of flowers - the field behind Chalet Edelweiss is no exception. This afternoon I took a stroll and photographed a few of the thousands of flowers.

• Bladder Campion
• Harebells
• Sweet Briar Rose
• Catchfly
• Globeflower
• Rampion
• Rhaetian Rampion
• Lily
• Scabious
• Geum
• Aqualigia
• Rockrose
• Buttercup
• Lupin
• Large Speedwell - to name just the above

Of course where there are flowers there are insects and butterflies equally as colourful and varied, as well as this Tortoiseshell I spotted Ringlets, Fritilarys, Whites and Blues - and that's just within a few hundred meters of the Chalet.

Tortoiseshell

Ups & downs in the Gran Paradiso

To end our winter we joined a Mountain Tracks ski tour in the Gran Paradiso, Italy - just a couple of hours away from home. A fantastic week despite the weather - fresh snow and high winds changed the usual moving on journey through the mountains into a two centre base for some great day tours. The 'ups' of the week were summiting Punta (Bazel) Calabre (3445m), Tresenta (3609m), and the Gran Paradiso (4061m); the 'downs' included skiing great powder, tricky crust and porridge...

Benevolo and Victor Emmanuel huts

Skining and skiing through fresh snow

Summits of Tresenta and Gran Paradiso

Look back on winter

With less than 3 weeks left of lift accessed skiing I thought it was time to look back on some of the fantastic ski days we've had here in the Val d'Anniviers this winter... But it ain't over yet.

December: Storms brought record amounts of snow and we were cut off for 2 days

January: Heli ski conditions for everyone including our Mountain Tracks off piste week.

February: Freezing temperatures and fabulous powder.

March: Still finding powder within the domain or with just a short skin to hidden spots.

April: Spring snow showers and still skiing back to the chalet

We've got lots more postings and pictures on our Facebook page.

Heli skiing and touring

In this part of the alps we have some of the highest peaks and some of the most spectacular heli landing spots. Last week we spent two unforgetable days, starting with a classic heli-drop on the Pigne d'Arolla, skiing and skinning into Italy for some fantastic snow, scenery and food.

We were guided by Dominique Fellay of Alpine Dreams, and flown by Heli Alps.