This summer we've done lots of walking up to 3000m - well above the tree line of around 1800m. At these higher altitudes the terrain is harsh and exposed, and snow patches can last all year. But somehow things still grow - a quick glance across a grey scree slope just below the Hohtürli pass and it appeared to be just thousands of stones and certainly no soil. Look a little longer and your eyes adjust to see splashes of green and pink - a 'field' of Glacier Crowfoot grow in splattered patches across the slope. The record for high alpine flowers goes to Saxifrage biflora, a pretty pink flowering plant, which has been found at above 4000m in the alps
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSWMnLdCo4ABjVkAnWIuF7rAWl2IvQGaEiTG74rR8TxN3MAC0tlGRcwV0m5Kl7qFjoON-7QR2vhcE2e8p4ydHJh81wfV40wEQvM5xHjiBotujT4vS0574A8PfqFxTgpRelxAE4RYeG5Bj/s400/SkiZinal-4145.jpg) |
Just below the Hohturli pass - Glacier Crowfoot - Ranunculus glacialis |
A little lower down, a crack in the rock becomes the perfect 'flower-pot' for some Dwarf Rampion
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Dwarf Rampion - Phyteuma humile |
At the mouth of the Zinal glacier amongst large rocks Alpine Toadflax blooms and Pansies cover another scree slope
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L: Alpine Toadflax - Linaria alpina. R:Alpine Pansy - Viola alpina |
Dwarf Soapwort and Harebells flourish in hairline cracks in boulders near the Cabane Bec de Bosson and above the Moiry reservoir
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6WNvJsg5udGmLoCN7bC72Tf6tToMIV2dIzAQ4415E-cBmovQZiy_ituFpE7kwmARnY8W8qntkIatB0_M2dz-ZPOEF-ZalwLzQUj4AEOw6Z0_Gv65giF_jtV67_WbHEJoWKGqPNkVQr4x/s400/SkiZinal-7290779.jpg) |
Dwarf Soapwort - Saponaria pumilio |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzI5i2SjGFjaSJT_bp2HTJwmzJQeiDFqrioUbnMQz4T_0GjDgc0JOwY9nOvqfVgo1sudG-6z386HBDlSRa8veVuUZTgjb4dzv26oND3KaO4r61R3HNjHOxlch_9qqu05HsT2URa1WyOoG/s400/Val+d%2527Anniviers-5983.jpg) |
Dwarf Harebell - Campanula collina |
A small depression in a boulder is filled with Moss Campion near the Gemmi pass
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyM9XfIzuxKd-xsGtShArmWYwZl9wz5Uq-UE9pUFR6hOqTzALP8Y561Tz-UYsyygvkP5tj2pDHne0ScK_1ARYspf2ZXkIFALZ0HhvWpYgAffFaLACdzuEVDPLZGKcf-pnucJC-CqiWN4ni/s400/SkiZinal-4741.jpg) |
Moss Campion - Silene acaulis |
And along a much travelled path, Alpine Saxifrage manages to survive the altitude and passing walkers tramping through.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipI8a2Vb9bQ51yd-5ilD8jmlDQlQ2y3xEpQ-xtYfZCmKCvxJWIAU8Pi2RWyY9CP2ckLSlt-AOiUbow_nUGYk6uZ6HHBbXweXo3dNuyPyFtQeCuGCd-ydWmpw10KPgcr_PFaxLs662jejMU/s400/SkiZinal-3796.jpg) |
Alpine Saxifrage - Saxifraga nivalis |
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