Jewel in the Imperial Crown

As in previous years we ended the season by joining a Mountain Tracks group and some clients for a ski tour.  This April we decided to tour above Zinal on what's known as the Imperial Haute Route, as it takes you past the 5 peaks making up the Imperial Crown. Two years ago we did a varient but so so different (you can see pictures from that tour here).

This time we started off in Zermatt and took a route heading back to Zinal (the high way). It was to be a week of some real gems - we summited two peaks over 4000m, with climbs of up to 1600m in a day, skied though some of the most spectacular glaciated terrain and traversed the knife edge ridge line of the Moming... Staying in a range of huts from the 'self-catered' Arpitetta, to the comfy Grand Mountet and the soon to be replace (thank-goodness) Tracuit.

A real gem of a tour... it'll be hard to top this one

Stunning views above Zermatt

Some spectacular glaciers

Traversing the Moming Arete - heart stopping to say the least

And then there was light...

As the season came to an end Le Mazot had a flurry of activity when the local carpenters finally arrive to fit the new windows. What a transformation - light streams into the rooms like it never has before. Great timing too - the resort is now shut and the guests have all gone home, so over the next few weeks we'll be able to push on with the interior and finish the insulation, cladding, bathroom, kitchen, cupboards etc etc.....(gosh there's still quite a bit to be done).

Even though it's been a bit of a black hole with work still to be done - it hasn't stopped us using it as our new winter base and so far we've had at least 7 weeks sleeping over there. Roll on next winter when it will all be finished.

Touno's Turn

Finally got to ski the big couloir above St. Luc. The 3018m Touno forms the southern edge of the domain, looming over the long piste descent to Prilet. There are several skiable couloirs but the obvious classic is west-north-west. The entry is not obvious from a distance and even less so once you've climbed up round the back. From the col there's a narrow snow-ridge with sharp roped descent into a notch, then down a snowy gully to the crux where it narrows and steepens. There's a fixed rope to help out on the scratchy rocky section though without Nick belaying us, we wouldn't have had a hope - one slip and you'd go a long way. After all that the couloir itself is wide and quite gentle, though we did manage to set off a small slide on the sunny side... Three people had got there before us but I guess they didn't have to serve breakfast to their guests first.

The ascent... 

The climb down...

The ski...

The end.

Skating fit

Last year we tried skate skiing for the first time in the nearby resort of Goms. After just one hours excellent coaching we were off - wobbling slightly less, able to pick up some speed and realising just how good this could be as a get-fit routine. 

One year on and we've taken the plunge and invested in all the gear. We've now got to remember all of Damian's tips as the wobbles and alarming jolts have returned. It's hilariously funny when you're not the one spread eagled on the floor but you're soon wiping the smile of your face as you find yourself going into the corner just a little bit to quick and ending up in the snowbank opposite.. Lots to learn..

Bygone days...

The renovations of Le Mazot continue with our new front door now fitted, the bathroom semi underway and the kitchen standing in the corner still in it's boxes. However, we've been using it and have already had a week sleeping over there.

As we work on the old building, it is hard to ignore just what it must have been like 100 or more years ago. Recently I came across some wonderful old photos (www.notrehistoire.ch) of Mottec showing just how rough and ready it was...

One thing that is striking is just how many more trees there are today - no need to chop them down to build and heat your house with.

Old road to Zinal - you can see Le Mazot in its original location over in the far meadows.

The centre of Mottec - the old chapel is now renovated

Looking down on Mottec

Snow shapes

For the last 4 days it's been snowing on and off. We've had about 80 cm's fall in the village. So today, in between snow showers and snow clearing, I took my camera out into Mottec to photograph some of the wonderful snow forms.

Le Mazot - work in progress...

 

It's been 2 months since our first post about Le Mazot and things have changed - and not just the weather.    

We've filled in the old hole for the chimney and installed a new one. Which involved pouring a concrete pad that slopped and didn't drop onto the floor below, cutting new shingle tiles and making sure the new copper work was straight. A first and no one fell off despite the snow..

 

Inside we've installed a new floor, drains and made a new wall...

plus this week we've finished insulating the ceiling and have put up the new panelling...

We're still awaiting our planning permissions, but all being well we should get that in the next week and be able to start on the windows and walls