Snowshoeing

I am quite used to guiding people of all different levels, from retired couples and families to even mountain-bike champions and ex-paratroopers. It’s no problem for me to adapt the excursion to you by using ski lifts or parking the car high up near a forest path.

Snowshoeing requires no particular technique and is really no more strenuous than summer hiking, but it gives us access to a whole new world far from the noise of the ski pistes, the real mountain winter environment.

We often follow the same forest paths that we use in summer, the snow generally being hard-packed by the passage of other snowshoeing groups on previous days - you don't meet many people. The snowshoes are made of lightweight plastic with small metal points underneath which stops us slipping and of course they prevent us sinking into the snow where the sun has softened it.

In winter there are many signs and tracks left by wildlife that are recognisable in the snow. You can find deer tracks, the hooves spread to stay on top of fresh snow, and below are some snowhare tracks that you often find meandering over the snowfields. Strangely enough they occasionally jump six feet which may be to confuse any predators following their trail. Along with tracks you find identifiable droppings and feeding signs, branches torn by deer high on the tree or nipped off neatly and lower down by snowhares.

Fox tracks are often interesting to observe, following the crests of banks hoping to hear non-hibernating rodents coming out of their holes below to dig tunnels under the snow in search of food or following ptarmigan and snowhare tracks.As an example of their persistance in 1995, far above snowshoeing terrain, I was alone high on Mont Blanc at nearly 4300m in winter, in the sun but being knocked over by extremely strong winds - even having to dodge large pieces of frozen sastrugi being whipped past horizontally - when I noticed beside me what appeared to be a small circle of orange fur spinning one way and then the other. I was amazed to realise it was a pair of young foxes fighting to stay in position and not be carried away. The only reason I could think of for their presence was the spot behind the nearby Refuge de Gouter where the guardian had been burning rubbish at the end of the summer season and which had been blown clear of snow by the high winds.

 

Night Excursions

We do night excursions under the stars with headtorches to eat Alpine dishes in front of a roaring fire at a mountain inn.

 

Equipment

A small backpack, normal hiking boots, anorak, gloves, hat, fleece top or pullover, water-bottle, snacks and sandwich, sunglasses and cream, and of course a camera.

The kit will stay in the backpack most of the time except for rest stops but you need to have it all the same.

 

Avalanche conditions

Visit avalanche conditions and weather conditions or ring 0892 68 74 20 for weather conditions. (France)

Having fun in the snow.

Hole made by a woodpecker

Looking for termites and possibly trying to attract females. They have specially cushioned brains to protect them from the repeated blows.

Les Drus and Aiguille Verte behind.

 

Snow hare tracks.