Ascent: 950m
Weather: blue sky, mostly sunny but more clouds than yesterday, light snow in later afternoon
Saw: bearded vulture , heard a woodpecker, three eagles circling, tracks of various sizes, inc hare (?)
We set of at 8:30am and headed up through the woods, taking steeper paths through the trees at times. At first stop, I managed to catch blurry photo of big bird of prey.
There was more up.We came round the other side of the plateau and then decended to the col, through steep soft snow which was fun (although not everyone's cup of tea, it would appear) to a cross roads of paths and then along the route of the G5 through more open woodland on quite a steep slope, here having to keep a distance of about 20m between walkers. More for good practice than any real risk of avalanche (allegedly).
Lunch stop was under close observation by a pair of crows.
Went up a small hill (Sommet Bucher) which had good views of the surrounding mountains and approaching weather, quite dramatic clouds complete with snow.
The descent was via windy snowshoe paths through the snow, with optional slide. By my turn, the snowy slide was looking a little browner than I would have preferred so I opted for a zigzag through the (surprisingly) soft snow. Over a wooden bridge and a last sneaky bit of up hill into the village.
Dormitory accommodation tonight. But very comfortable.
Dinner was bizarre green soup, turkey in orange sauce with macaroni and a rhubarb and marscapone pud. With red wine.
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