Le Mazot - a new project...

Just over the road is Le Mazot - to some it's not more than a garden shed but this late 18th, early 19th century wooden chalet is full of charm and potential.

We're now starting the 4th week of our new renovation project and from the photos you can see that we have managed to tear the place apart - yes, you sometimes have to go backwards in order to go forwards....

Le Mazot interior - on the left is before - on the right is now...

There's a lot to do before December, but the aim is to give us a cosy place to live during the winter allowing Chalet Edelweiss guests full use of the 10 bed chalet. From next summer Le Mazot will be available to rent as a self-catered chalet for 2-4 people. Rumour has it that Edward Whymper may have stayed here when he came to the valley in 1864...

Mottec fete 2012

The chapel dates from 1774

In 2008 we got involved in the first fete to raise money for a new roof for the St Laurent - the hamlet's second chapel. Four years on and the whole chapel has been completely renovated. Not just the leaking tin roof, but the damp walls and rotting plaster have all been repaired.

The fete took place in the centre of Mottec in front of the hamlet's other chapel

This weekend the second fete was held to help pay for it all. The two day event started with an official chapel opening complete with benediction, and went on to include lots of wine, music (everything from folk to karaoke), raffle draws and food. Hundred of people came  -  the total raised is still to be announced, but in 2008 the fete made chf 12, 400...

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