Looking for paradise for an alpine trekking adventure – great mountain vistas, big snowy peaks, interesting alpine trekking, comfy huts, big glaciers.
The Pontrasina / St Moritz region of Switzerland is a delight.
Piz Palu – big snowy majestic peak back drop for alpine trekking in Switzerlands St Moritz/Pontrasina region.
Comfy huts for Alpine trekking in Switzerland
Swiss alpine trekking transport
Typical NZ Spring storms are coming through and just last week we had fresh snow all around the mountains near Wanaka. October ended with our ski touring team coming out of Tasman Saddle hut, a successful Copeland pass alpine trekking traverse and a Mount Cook climb that could not eventuate because of the full on weather and avalanche dangers. IFMGA mountain guide Sean Brooks with mountaineer Rob had an interesting time at Plateau hut with the wind keeping them awake during the nights spent up there. Chief mountain guide Gary Dickson sat out the storm with VIP team Phil, Bill, John and Geoff and they managed a good number of excellent ski turns in the surrounding areas for the next couple of days, finishing with a splendid ski down the Tasman Glacier. However, they witnessed lots of avalanche activity too. NZMGA mountain guide Pete James with Darrin were also in the area, waiting in Mt Cook village for the weather to clear enough. After they saw the Chamoix bar windows blown out and the storm finally calming down, they were able to cross the Main Divide and here some photos (all by Pete James) telling more:
Climbing up towards Copeland Shelter
The shelter and Copeland pass behind it
Darrin on the Copeland Pass, Mt Cook Nat. Park
Some of the Icelandic team approaching the summit of Point De Mourty, Switzerland
Ivar, Chief guide for Icelandic Mountain Guides enjoying some swiss granite
Some of the team take a refreshing dip after 8 days of training.
Latter half of June, and Gary and Chief guide of Icelandic Mountain Guides, Ivar, spent 8 days in Switzerland with 8 of IMG’s senior guides for some assessment of Alpine trekking skills and knowledge and up-skilling/training of guiding on solid alpine rock. Both the Zinal (Moiry Glacier) and Trient Plateau areas were used and provided perfect rock ridges for training missions and snowy passes and glaciers for assessing skills and knowledge.
The Icelandic team head back to Iceland for another busy season guiding on the dynamic guiding terrain of Iceland with hopefully ” a few more tools in their tool box”.
Gary having a few days off rock climbing with Iris on the local Swiss crags before heading away for a week with an ISM client.
The photos from the Tour du Grand Combin on this link of the Marmotte and here some fauna and flora shots:
a young marmot in the Swiss Alps
marmot venturing out of its cave
Swiss Alps alpine flora and fauna
Lis Martagon or Turquish lily, an alpine queen
Edelweiss, a famous flower
Gentian Purpurea