A few days joined together in Zinal. It’s a busy time here right now, the Swiss public holiday 1st August bought some more crowds and it’s high season for holidays generally. Among the people in town are a several other people from BAIML and MLTA some of whom are preparing for IML assessments in a few weeks held here in the Anniviers. One of them, Gerald Davidson, tayed with us for a few days with his wife and we did three of the valley classics in a spell of good weather.

First we did the high traverse from Zinal along to above the cabane Petit Mountet and back to Zinal. This is a great day out, not more than a couple of hundred meters of ascent as you can use the cablecar to gain the first 800m! It gives amazing views into the back of the valley and peaks including the Weisshorn, Dent Blanche and the Zinalrothhorn.

Above left, Gerald crossing a small stream on the Zinal traverse and above right, the Roc de La Vache.

The next day we went along to St Luc and used the funicular to gain some height before setting off back to Zinal on a high (2400m approx) traverse back to Zinal. This is spectacular again with views all down the valley and some great views of the Matterhorn. The weather was about perfect, some early cloud from the overnight storms clearing giving a clear, fresh day.

For the third day we went up the Zinal valley and, after a lunch stop near a small lake, climbed the Roc de La Vache with sits under the great cirque under the Bishorn and Weishorn. I’ve skied down this but it’s first time I’ve been in the summer. We met up with Gareth also from BAIML on this and while he looked after the children his wife, Sue, joined us for the final leg over the Roc de La Vache.

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Tags: Hiking | hiking in Switzerland | Roc de La Vache | St-Luc | trekking | trekking in Switzerland | walking in Switzerland | Zinal