Sbooker Scenic Hiking in the Alps, May/June 2026
- Thread starter Sbooker
- Start date
Props to Sbooker for going ahead with this. I'd love to do it too; however, with a constrained amount of money (that therefore only allows a certain amount of time on said trip) I can't trade skiing for warm-weather activities, which I can pursue here in very pleasant but not world-class scenery. Hopefully at some point in the future.
Went for a walk up to Glacier Blanc refuge today. Pretty spectacular.
^Marmots out and about.
^The spaghetti was great, The coffee was perhaps the worst I’ve ever had.
^The bottom of the glacier is on the left.
^ Rock hopping the snow melt.
Kylie after 2300 vertical with about 700 of that in snow. She’ll sleep well.
^Marmots out and about.
^The spaghetti was great, The coffee was perhaps the worst I’ve ever had.
^The bottom of the glacier is on the left.
^ Rock hopping the snow melt.
Kylie after 2300 vertical with about 700 of that in snow. She’ll sleep well.
jasoncapecod
Well-known member
That looks amazing !!!
berkshireskier
Active member
Nice pics! Looks great. I love Orangina.
There was a set of four Orangina glasses in the window of a second hand shop in Briancon. Kylie was desperate to buy them but the shop was closed for the time we were there.
We went for a walk up to Aiguilette Des Houches yesterday. About 3200 feet up. The views were stunning. As is often the case pics don’t do them justice. Unfortunately there was a bit of haze so it wasn’t 100 percent perfect. Close though.
^About a third of the way up overlooking Les Houches.
^ He didn’t seem concerned by our presence.
^The trees broke to meadow about half way up. A good place for the first cup of tea and croissant.
^Wild flowers are out.
^That’s me. Kylie walks a bit slower.
^The ridge runs roughly east west. The south face completely devoid of snow.
^ We came down a different way and saw a few small waterfalls.
Went for a pre dinner drink at Big Mountain brewing just around the corner from our digs. Nice little place with a pretty good view. @jamesdeluxe I had their ‘French NEIPA’.
It was good despite the confusing label.
^About a third of the way up overlooking Les Houches.
^ He didn’t seem concerned by our presence.
^The trees broke to meadow about half way up. A good place for the first cup of tea and croissant.
^Wild flowers are out.
^That’s me. Kylie walks a bit slower.
^The ridge runs roughly east west. The south face completely devoid of snow.
^ We came down a different way and saw a few small waterfalls.
Went for a pre dinner drink at Big Mountain brewing just around the corner from our digs. Nice little place with a pretty good view. @jamesdeluxe I had their ‘French NEIPA’.
It was good despite the confusing label.
Do French IPAs have a different pine-needle taste than those from other parts of the world?@jamesdeluxe I had their ‘French NEIPA’.
We went for the obligatory ride to Aiguille du Midi. There is a fellow on the Oz ski forum that has climbed to the top of Mont Blanc and skied down. I’m not certain of the lines he took. Has anyone here skied above the Aiguille du Midi point?
After some standout weather some instability is on its way so we’re moving on. We went for a bike ride around Lake Annecy yesterday. A fun activity for a few hours.
We are not at all into soccer but Paris played Arsenal in the Champions League final last night. We’re in Grenoble. The city centre atmosphere was electric with the whole area erupting with cheering at every big moment. There were fireworks when Paris won. (Not sanctioned by the city type).
It’s very warm here.
I went for a quick trail run in the park below the bastille before breakfast. It’s quite scenic.
I don’t know where we are heading next. Might drive south toward Verdon Gorge as there is less rain predicted down that way.
After some standout weather some instability is on its way so we’re moving on. We went for a bike ride around Lake Annecy yesterday. A fun activity for a few hours.
We are not at all into soccer but Paris played Arsenal in the Champions League final last night. We’re in Grenoble. The city centre atmosphere was electric with the whole area erupting with cheering at every big moment. There were fireworks when Paris won. (Not sanctioned by the city type).
It’s very warm here.
I went for a quick trail run in the park below the bastille before breakfast. It’s quite scenic.
I don’t know where we are heading next. Might drive south toward Verdon Gorge as there is less rain predicted down that way.
While passing through canal-crossed Annecy a couple years ago, I tracked down a number of exterior locations from the 1971 film Claire's Knee by my favorite director, Eric Rohmer, in which the lake plays a key role (here's a two-minute clip). I made a point of stopping at the Pont des Amours, reportedly the most photographed spot in the city. This shot is pulled from the opening sequence:
Per Google: "It is said that lovers who kiss on the bridge stay together for the rest of their lives. There are also some who claim that the bridge's name derives from its former use as a meeting place for prostitutes."
To avoid incoming Alps rain we have moved south to Gorges du Verdon.
The lavender is just starting to bloom.
We rented a peddle boat on the Verdon Gorge. Went for a walk too. It’s lovely scenery.
The view from our $90usd a night hotel room was nice.
We had the best dinner of the trip so far in a lovely settling.
We visited Moustiers. It’s a town tucked into a rock face.
We are moving further south due to weather in the Alps proper.
The lavender is just starting to bloom.
We rented a peddle boat on the Verdon Gorge. Went for a walk too. It’s lovely scenery.
The view from our $90usd a night hotel room was nice.
We had the best dinner of the trip so far in a lovely settling.
We visited Moustiers. It’s a town tucked into a rock face.
We are moving further south due to weather in the Alps proper.
ChrisC
Well-known member
You will have to post a Google Map of these locations. It's quite fun to let your travels be dictated by the weather.
Me: I would probably return the rental car, jump on a fast TGV (overnight?) train to Paris, and get a ticket to the French Open (Quarters?).
It's a bucket list item to see some Grand Slam tennis in person, especially Wimbledon. However, the reality is: watching top players on small courts at Masters 1000 events (Indian Wells (Palm Springs, CA) and Miami --> Sunshine Slams) in the rounds of 64 or 32 is the real treat (one can sit behind the umpires and hear/see everything) - Not sitting in the nose-bleed seats at a place like Arthur Ashe Stadium/US Open.
Me: I would probably return the rental car, jump on a fast TGV (overnight?) train to Paris, and get a ticket to the French Open (Quarters?).
It's a bucket list item to see some Grand Slam tennis in person, especially Wimbledon. However, the reality is: watching top players on small courts at Masters 1000 events (Indian Wells (Palm Springs, CA) and Miami --> Sunshine Slams) in the rounds of 64 or 32 is the real treat (one can sit behind the umpires and hear/see everything) - Not sitting in the nose-bleed seats at a place like Arthur Ashe Stadium/US Open.
Yes it precipitates at least as much in summer as winter in the Alps, with the possible exception of the Maritimes. As I found out during the only time I'm been there in the summer, briefly in August 1999.