Postcard from Timperley: Colletts 2024

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I have also experimented with a photobook from Photobox, as I was concerned about derogatory reports on their new software. It took me 6-8 hours to produce a 24 page book - Large Landscape on Glossy paper, Layflat style - costing £33 including postage. You can view the album on-line here, I'm not known for my IT skills (quite the opposite!), but the new software worked ok for me.

Friday, 5 July 2024

Friday 5 July 2024 - Boval Hutte (Europe Day 18)

To start today's 'there and back' route we caught the 8:24 number 4 bus to St Moritz, where the picture above was taken. Then the Tirano train took us to Morteratsch, where the next picture was taken.

There are lots of routes from here. We chose Collett's 'M5' suggestion, a there and back path from 1860 metres to the Boval Hutte at over 2500 metres.

A good path led up the valley, with the cascading river full of snow melt on one side, and rock gardens on the other side.

We were looking up to some significant glaciers in the Piz Bernina area, one of the highest peaks in Switzerland.

There were also good views back down the valley on another blue sky day. Not visible in the next picture is an eagle that seemed to be enjoying the thermals.

Braided cascades from our right had to be negotiated with the assistance of a planked walkway for the widest of them.

Occasional crashes and bangs confirmed that the glaciers are on the move.

...And there were good views back down the valley.

On reaching the Boval Hutte we were soon joined by Phil and Suzy, who had started an hour after us. Schiewasser and tart for us; rosti for them.

Below the hut in a meadow, Sue and I enjoyed the rest of our lunch.

There's a race taking place soon. Here, just below the hut, is the 10km marker. A tough climb, with overtaking not very easy.

It was a lovely, easy walk back down by nearly the same route. We met Charlie, a soft alsatian, on his first walk in the Alps. He was getting tired! Arriving back at the start by 3:30, we saw the Bernina Express pass through before catching our own local train back to St Moritz, from where the number 4 bus took us, plus Phil and Suzy, as well as Collett's Bella - returning from a tough recce of one of the Collett's routes that still has snow conditions - back home.

We had walked about 11.5km, with maybe 800 metres ascent (Collett's say 650 metres, my Garmin says 912 metres), taking around 6 hours.

Just a couple of flowers today:

Some sort of Thistle, maybe Alpine Thistle

Mountain Houseleek

Mileage: 0 (Cum: 1160)
Garmin: 11.5km, 912 metres ascent

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Thursday, 4 July 2024

Thursday 4 July 2024 - Piz Chuern (Europe Day 17)

On a beautiful blue sky day we set off on foot from the hotel to the Furtschella cable car that took us up to 2312 metres from our 1800 metre base. Here's a view from the cable car.

Once up there, we enjoyed a glorious walk to Piz Chuern, 2684 metres. Fabulous Engadina views.

The Australians, Matt and Jenny, spent most of the day a bit ahead of us, appreciating that this was a walk to remember.

I'm short of time, so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

An interesting river crossing...

Here we are on the summit of Piz Chuern, courtesy of a Swiss trio.

Crossing one of the torrents was a bit tricky. The Swiss took off their shoes and socks, Matt very bravely jumped, Jenny waded in her new boots, and Sue and I donned gaiters, brought specially in anticipation of this obstacle. We all stayed dry, apart from the Swiss.

Lower down, a couple of planks almost made it feel like cheating!

Having spotted lots of King of the Alps flowers, we had been tipped off as to some Edelweiss soon after the plank bridge. And yes, not many, but they were there.

Eventually, accompanied by the whistles of the local marmots, we reached the comfort of the verdant Fex valley, emerging finally down some steep steps beside the Edelweiss Hotel.

Beers etc outside Hotel Maria with Matt and Jenny were most welcome.

Today's outing was about 12.8km, with 643 metres ascent, taking a leisurely 6.5 hours.

Entire-leaved Primrose

King of the Alps

Viscid Primrose

Purple Saxifrage

Trumpet Gentians

Edelweiss

Mileage: 0 (Cum: 1160)
Garmin: 12.8km, 643 metres ascent

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Wednesday, 3 July 2024

Wednesday 3 July 2024 - Lagh Da Cavloc (Europe Day 16)

With the weather forecast not so good today we decided to stay low and visit Lagh Da Cavloc by a roundabout route.

This involved a 14 minute bus ride to Maloja, with Australian couple Matt and Jenny. We left them to do the Via Engiadina walk that we enjoyed on Monday. Our route crossed fields, from where a view back to the village is shown above.

We soon reached a bridge over the frothy Orlegna river, from which the views downstream and upstream are shown below.

Apparently this is an old smugglers' route. We found ourselves following the Smugglers Trail, a route defined by smugglers' hats screwed onto rocks. It's also a snowshoe trail.

A steep climb through the forest brought us to a small lake, Lagh Da Bitabergh, where we lingered for an elevenses break.

About 2.5 km of forest paths then led to Lagh Da Cavloc, where we enjoyed lunch on a bench. We had started the walk with David and Jill, so it was a surprise to meet them coming the other way. They had decided to reverse Collett's recommended route. Suzy and Phil, who we hadn't met before, were just behind them.

A cuckoo serenaded us, as did one yesterday outside our apfelstrudel hut.

We opted to walk up to Plan Canin, on the way to which a large and very clean herd of goats was encountered. Sue went into 'goat whisperer' mode.

A gently undulating path led to Plan Canin and a locked private bothy. The view up to a high pass confirmed that proper snow and ice equipment was needed up there. A suitably equipped group passed us on their way up. The next three pictures were taken at Plan Canin, from where we retraced our steps to Lagh Da Cavloc.

A huge boulder field was passed on the way back to the goats.

Given recent rain, it wasn't a surprise to see waterfalls streaming down from high above.

We made our way back down past Restaurant Cavloccio, deciding not to visit. On our way down the good track we found Tony and Caroline admiring the flowers, and back at the bus stop we found Chris and the other Caroline. So the only Collett's guests we didn't see today were David and Avril.

The next picture was taken near Maloja. I was puzzled as to the purpose of the dam.

The bus back to Sils was crowded. Standing room only.

The Ride with GPS app seems to have worked today, and roughly tallies with my Garmin watch that suggests we walked 14.6km with 450 metres ascent, taking around 5.5 hours.

Here are a few flowers from today.