Alpine Summer (part 1)

Not many Munros this summer - we were in Germany and France for much of July and August ... but that was no hardship!  Apart from enjoying the sun, visiting old friends and being tourists, we climbed two very memorable "hills", well worthy of Munro status!

Mont Vorassay - Monday 10th July 2006

The first of these was Mont Vorassay (the green hill in the picture), which is an outlier of Mont Blanc (hidden at the back), at the end of the ridge which stretches west over the Aiguille de Bionassay (the snowy peak) towards St. Nicolas de Veroce, the village where we were staying for a week.


Looking out from our gite, Mont Vorassay (2287m) dominated the view and was just asking to be climbed! 


Unlike a Scottish hill, there were waymarked paths all the way, and it was green to the very top, but the position was so dramatic, and the summit as airy as Sgurr nan Gillean!

We began at the village of Le Champel at 1200m.  A good path led up through the forest, across the face of Mont Vorassay.  Here's Iain and Julie on the path, as it emerges from the trees above the Gorge de la Gruvaz.   the mountain in the distance is Mont Joly, which I had climbed on a previous visit.


The path led to the Refuge de Miage at 1570m, then steeply up to the Col du Tricot (2120m) behind Mont Vorassay.

The Col du Tricot (right) lies on the Tour de Mont Blanc path.


From the col, we turned west to climb up to the summit of Mont Vorassay.  


Turning right would lead on up the ridge, over Pointe Inferierur du Tricot to the Aiguille du Bionassay, and then to Mont Blanc itself.

The climb up Mont Vorassay's final 200m was steep and unremitting, then after 45 mins of hard work, suddenly we were on the dramatic summit ridge ... with the valley far below, and wide views of all the surrounding ranges - Les Aravis to the west, the Chamonix Aiguilles to the north, and the Dome de Miage to the south.


A grand place to sit awhile and admire the prospect!

Although we had climbed up steep grassy slopes, steep rocky gullies plunged down from the summit ridge - the so-called "Abrupts de Vorassay" (below).  


Behind us, the view was dominated by the Mont Blanc Massif - the Dome du Gouter and Aiguille de Bionassay.


Eventually, we managed to tear ourselves away from the summit, descending back to the Col du Tricot.

From the Col, we turned north down a lovely path down through alpine rhododendrons to the Cascade du Tricot at the foot of the Glacier du Bionassay.  


The contrast between the heat of the valley, and the huge snowfields above, was incredible.  


A good path, then track led us back down to Le Champel, with glimpses back up to the summit .


The guide book says 5 hours for this complete circuit of the mountain.  We took 7.5, but took our time to enjoy the views!






(written 27/02/10)

Braemar weekend - June 2006

A late start to season 2006!  Easter holidays took us down to the Norfolk Broads before joining in the fun at Spring Harvest.  The May weekend passed by, and our first outing to the hills was on Common Riding weekend - 16/17 June.

We camped at our usual favoured campsite at Braemar.


The 16th was overcast, but we ventured up the glen to Inverey, and cycled 5 miles up a good track (right) to Altanour Lodge.  From there, we enjoyed a good day's walking on rounded hills:  Beinn Iuthairn Bheag, Mam nan Carn, Beinn Iuthairn Mhor and Carn Bhac.  Would many peple climb these hills if they weren't Munros?  Probably not, but they have their own charm:  7 hours walking, and we only saw one person in the distance all day.  

The most notable features were the deep coire on the north side of Beinn Iuthairn Mhor (left), and the wide expanse of dried out peat hags between B.I.M and Carn Bhac, which allowed us to make great speed across the moorland on their dried out surface.


Lovely run back down to Inverey on the bikes in the evening, with the sun now shining after a grey day.








Next morning we woke to hear heavy rain drumming down on the tent roof.    Browsed the local outdoor shop while waiting to see if the weather might improve, and ended up buying a new pair of boots!

We drove up towards Inverey and parked in the big layby to see if the weather might improve.  


Finally, about 1pm, the rain stopped and the sky started to brighten from the west.  Middle of June, so plenty of daylight still ahead;  let's go for the Devil's Point!  (this name is a prudish Victorian translation of the Gealic name Bod an Deamhainn).  


Bod an Deamhainn (right) from the Lairig Ghru path

Bikes out once again, and soon we were pedalling up form the Linn o' Dee car park towards Derry Lodge.  Leaving the bikes there, we set off up the Lairig Ghru path, and made good progress, but it was 4pm by the time we reached Corrour Bothy.  Anne decided to wait for me there, while I made a rapid ascent alone to the summit, firstly up the well-engineered path steeply up the coire, then doubling back along the bouldery ridge to the dramatic summit (left).  


From Corrour Bothy:  50 minutes ascent, 35 minutes descent!  And only a mile or so from the southern extreme of last August's expedition over Braeriach, Cairn Toul and Sgor an Lochan Uaine from Coylumbridge.


Met up with Anne again (who had managed to keep her distance from the solitary, slightly drunk, male occupant of the bothy!), enjoying the summer sunshine down by the burn, for the long walk and cycle back to the Linn o' Dee.


(written 20/02/10)