[_Uli]

In mid march (12-14; we were extremely lucky in the choice of time, we still had cold winter conditions, 2 days after began the great thawing) we did a not so common traverse in the western swiss Alps, the tour around the Gd-Muveran, between Vaud and Wallis.

In the summer that' s a frequented parcour but in the winter because of the logistical problems, no guarded huts ecc. it's absolutely not crowded. But nevertheless very nice - although technically and physically testing.

That's the mountain which was the center of our tour. The Grand Muveran:



The parcour of our tour was the following:

1st day: Morcles (1.200m) climbing up to La Tourche (2.050m), descent to the Alpage de Javerne (close; 1.700m), reclimbing up to Chaux Comun (2.000m), descent to Plan-sur-Bex (1.070m) and reclimbing up to the Cabane Plan Neve (2.260m). Ca. 2.400 m with big rucksack because the hut is not garded in winter was physically really hard. Luckily, there was no descent anymore, after all

2nd day: From Plan Neve to Le Pacheu (2.800m), downhill in direction of Derborence - to La Chaux, an alpage closed in winter (at 1.950m), reclimbing up to Col de Forcla (2.450m) and descent to Mayens de Chamoson (where we slept in a Gite d' Etape).

3rd day: From Mayens de Chamoson (Ovronnaz) to Col de Fenestral (2.400m, for the first 500m we used the installations of Ovronnaz), descent to Lac de Fully (1.950m), reclimbing up to Col Demecre (Le Diabley, 2.500m) and final downhill to Au d' Arbignon (1.650m). From there in in a long, flat, but technically difficult and dangerous - for the avalanche risk - traverse back to the place where we left the car.

Complessively, it was a really great tour although it devolved in the less reputed part of the Wallis (no 4.000 not even a 3.000 ). But as a counterpart: We were really alone, no crowds at all (save the part in the lift). An experience

Some pics:

Breathtaking panoramas during the first climb:

Aiguille Verte and Mt-Blanc


And on the other side of the valley of the Rhone, Tour Salliere and Cime de l' Est


On top of La Tourche. In the background: Pointe des Martinets & Petite Dent de Morcles


The Combe de Javerne. Only our tracks


On top of Chaux Comun looking down to the bowl that leads to Plans-sur-Bex


Near Pont de Nant. The last, long, uphill


On top of Le Richard, we need the ski crampons


There are still missing 200 ms, and we're proved


Finally arrived. But, we had to shovel for half an hour and then, inside, it was -11°!


But in the end, hot tea . . .


. . . and grappa did it!


Early in the morning of the second day. In direction of le Pacheu

(It's a couloir ca. 400m high with always 45° or more. Unfortunately the snow conditions were really ugly, the snow was like sugar with absolutely non cohesion. In the end we shoveled to find grip on the stones and rocks)

In the lower part still with skis on and kick-turns


Then skis on the sack


The exit of the couloir


Preparing the descent on the other side


The pleasure to ski in 30-40cms of powder




Skinning up in directio of Col de Forcla


On top of Col de Forcla, swiss precision


Last day. Skinning up in direction Col de Fenestral


On Col Demecre. The entrance to the - also not garded - hut in winter is by the roof


The steep faces of the Combe Demecre under le Diabley


It's really a fantastic bowl


One of the ugly and somewhat exposed traverses of avalanche ravines in the very last part


Nearly arrived. 1.000 ms below, the Rhone


Cheers

[skidaddle]

Wow!