February 2010

Mount Snow Shoeing in the mountains of Simplon: the top of the Spitzhorli

February 21, 2010

A classic, a very classical and if it is, there is some reason ...
The Simplon is known, it is easy to reach, but above all the surrounding mountains are beautiful, just beautiful and has a balcony Spitzhorli on all these. We bring the gang of 15 to discover this summit. The little bar
Varzo the breakfast is always a gem and I go back willingly. Too bad for those who climb up to the Simplon was seen peeling less than 5 euros for a pot of hot water with a tea bag ...
The day is beautiful: there is a cloud in the sky, but the parking is in the shade and sbarbella bad, so prompter ciaspolatura to move 200 of those who lead us to the sun ... fiuuu here is that it is a real pleasure.
Across the valley stands the hospice on the pass (good, cheap, but not suitable for the average population groups zainoinspalleschi), which is at the foot of the length of the Lion, which still can not see the top, the real one.

Let's start with the head pulling on Thu. Is there anyone who is particularly sensitive to the problem are the Avalanche and well talk and explanations on the subject, especially with my travel companions: no one likes to get under a mountain of snow, as no one likes the idea of be stretched by a car in the center and, despite the risks, which are never equal to zero, no you always need to give up the snow shoes, as we do not surrender to go downtown. But we need to track all possible precautions including the choice to cancel the Excursion as has already happened, But before you cancel you think where you go, you check the nivo-meteorological bulletins, often making a reconnaissance on the ground, but always (and I mean always) who has experience leading a group to bring in fresh snow, which is now the law identifies with being a mountain guide.
repeat these concepts until the nausea (nausea mine, of course): the rule of law, respect for the mountain people and the security are not abstract concepts, but must be declined in action concrete, if we are to save the skin and the mountains as we know it today.

And between a chat and a photo, snowshoes and entered into the heart. After a quiet start section, where we leave behind us the last tree (a mini-birch, small and fragile in this environment) and the last houses, attack some stringers, where on Thu divides us into two groups not to stress too much slope. The snow is very compact, but better to be cautious once too often, that's enough.
E 'beautiful, beautiful: the light, the sun, the visibility can only emphasize the beauty of the environment we are experiencing. In
very few people around and all with skis on their feet, but seeing pitch pushed me think that this path is that of snowshoe ski.

After the cross here is the zigzag ascent, with some low blood sugar that leads us on pianorone where you finally see our destination.
And here also begins to breathe a bit 'of that wind, that those who have climbed the Spitzhorli knows. Before, but it grew more powerful and sharp. Dressing of shells and I come to wear up to three overlapping pairs of gloves and thus I challenge anyone to bite their nails, especially my own!

Before the final climb we take a break in the one section is not ventilated, then off, on top. Appears pink, Alphubel, the hair comes out of the Matterhorn behind the scenes and then here's the piramidone Fisteranhorn (which certainly did not write the name well, but that has already been recognized by a panoramic photo) and wonder of the Aletsch Glacier. It's cold, but remember to go up this mountain far more terrible and in fact we are there for good 15 minutes (Olympic record in the winter).
Lunch, consumed in a protected area, will be delighted by the gifts of Father Christmas, provided the latter is shaved, a cannon ball and instead of reindeer uses its inalienable snowshoes. We were good (not believe)? We were good (this may change)? We were beautiful (can not be determined, as the mire we are shells, hats and sunglasses)? What will be, but Santa lavishes exquisite pistachio nougat be smoothed further with a good bottle of sweet wine.

We continue with the descent, which the top has nothing to tell: ridiculous slopes with snow as hard as marble. Only when we begin to discuss the cross and the motto "Where can you" begin to cut the cuttable, and dive into the deep snow as God commands. Often, Santa Claus, not satisfied, the descent goes back and repeats, only the implementation of a shirt tight close-assisted surgery of the neuro will cut a healthy these follies.

In step two meet and greet snowshoeing also their friends in search of fresh snow, but with another organization, and then return to earth Italy, put your legs under the table looking for a tasty afternoon snack.

Today has been consumed the usual hackneyed ritual: meeting, crew, lunch, snowshoes, discesona, deciaspolatura, bar / snack, return to the plains.
And then someone can explain why every time it's like a novelty?

10, 100, 1000, days like this, with the Fletschorn watching us from his almost 4000m

pump that pumped back to you, we come to pianorone

The group left the Spitzhorli in the middle, my adviser mapping / GPS right (did not know that in Switzerland)

On the top (photo by Andrew)

one man hobbles in queue ... guess who? (Photo by Andrew)

The Fisterhanoorrrnn or so

This I admit: it is the Lion (but who cares, I'm Libra)

A compact group

Santa Claus rewards beautiful children

could not miss the pictures down?

hit and sunk (merciless picture of Andrea)

With snowshoes on Punta Pizzo Leretta

February 2, 2010

After the heat (?) Embrace of the outputs of last weekend, we try again today, with snowshoes. The goal is the Punta Leretta, inside the park of Mount Mars. Other
14 idle on Tuesday (one is so lazy to forget an appointment for snowshoeing) date back to the valley of Gressoney putting on snowshoes to Coumarial, our starting point. In this month's removal to the most appropriate idle Wednesday, which is in the middle of a working week. Merla Merla
or not, the sky is rocking, the brightness at an altitude of one thousand cars to the outdoor temperature -10 ° C. The operations will be reduced to bone and snowshoeing we start immediately, along the trail, which here coincides with one of the few marked trails for snowshoeing us.

Finally we reach the sun, and here is another music, the physical Goduria entering the capillaries. The Excursion change music, abandoning the narrow road to follow the most appropriate and fun off-piste routes. He has done so cold here, the snow is so much and is still being powdered. The Pulver have nothing to say, but the slow ...
The show begins on the tops of the southern part of the Val d'Aosta: Avic Emilus Becca di Nona and all. More basically a jumble of peaks are all overwhelmed by the prospect identification more difficult.
proceed in good climb up to some old pastures, where a pause is in order. The female population usually falls midweek, and today is no exception, but it is a population from the front line ... in reality this is a monstrous pander to the gifts with which we boys, we're covered: you start with the delicious cookies scotland-like, we create a spike high cholesterol so as to fade the summit of Mont Blanc.

loads properly, butter, cuddling and talking, we continue in the second part of the climb. We are faced with the imposing bulk of Monte Mars (we In fact, invading the park dedicated to him) and the path follows the ridge, with great desire, and tecica breath, leading to the summit. We are satisfied with the summit of Punta Leretta quieter, barely recognizable even when it is reached.

But we are not here to recognize the Leretta when to play in the snow and let us come to blows to the head tilt views. If you add that the temperature is high and not blowing a breath of wind, I have to ask "Can we ask for?"

From the top descend to the hut placed at the Plan dou Duc, where he rest in peace (a touch is a must). Who does not think its to rest on Thu follows the steep slope which leads to a rocky Cimetta mail a few hundred meters above. We, on the lower floors, jelly and look, with the sun toasts your skin.
But there is still one small detail: the Laura Cuneo was well thought of bringing some of his fellow citizens on a visit here ... Cuneo rum, hazelnut and lemon. At the sight of our fellow citizens have disappeared in an instant, ending in the horrible, dark recesses of our stomachs ... and go to cuddling.

Descent from the other side, with more snow and other views. Diving in the snow, assault with cold (in the literal sense of the word) and I give in, diving in the dust, much to the delight of onlookers.
The slopes are not dizzy, but the descent is one of those perfect to experiment with techniques and errors: especially the latter will win in the final standings, but will only tie-break. After
cuts up cuts, we take the summer path which leads us back into the woods to the parking lot. What

missing a day like this? Of course, a nice snack, we eat cold cuts to shots (delicious bacon, of course Arnad), cheese and a Pig tongue in green sauce in a bar in the valley, found in an entirely fortuitous. I would say that on Sat, with these goodies, he is outdoing himself and makes plenty of post-forget some snowshoeing in previous years, demonstrating a broad and growing sense of customer satisfaction

My snowshoe does not end here: I have already prepared their arms and baggage to move some day in the snow of the Dolomites ... the hunt for new jobs will be undeterred, even though I know very well that the mountain will always be to win at the end: there are too many places to see for one lifetime. The first

views out in the sun