Arriving at Geneva airport on Friday in the spring sunshine I waited for my new group of clients for a snowshoe walking weekend in the Beaufortain.? The weather has been incredibly mild and sunny; more like May than mid-March!? However the snow is still more than sufficient for both snowshoeing and skiing.
The first day we drove about 10 minutes to park above the small hamlet of Boudin.? We soon put on the snowshoes before following the line of the summer route to the Col du Pre.? Here we caught our first views towards the Lac de Roselend and the mountains above the lake.
We headed upwards towards the Roche Parstire following the line of the ridge with the views increasing with each step.? Beautiful sunshine bathed the peaks with the odd cumulus cloud throwing some shadow to pick out the relief.? We found a great spot to enjoy our picnic lunch; in the sunshine with great views towards the Grand Mont but sheltered from the gentle northerley breeze.? Out with the Beaufort cheese, a couple of small bottles of wine and the other goodies.
After enjoying our lunch we gained a little more height before crossing over to the Lac de Roselend side of the now broader ridge.? The lake was almost completely frozen over.? We enjoyed descending in the deep snow towards the line of a summer track before contouring back around to the Col du Pre and the route down to Boudin.
Arriving back in Areches we enjoyed a welcome drink on the sunny terrace outside the hotel.
Today was a complete contrast!? The day started dry with good visibility but cloud was moving in fast as we headed up from near Haute Luce towards the Lac de la Girotte.? Arriving beyond the lake we were envelopped in thickening cloud and it required a little attention to find the descent.? The snow started for fall, gently at first but increasingly heavily as we descended through the woods.
By the time we reached the road the snow was coming down very steadily with large damp flakes.? A great day and a chance to see the mountains in a different guise.
