The Swiss Pudding Testers on Tour

After a fairly heroic yomp to the Cabane Becs des Bossons, it seemed sensible to have an easier day taking in the sights above St Luc. We drove to Chandolin and took the Tsape chairlift, then set off for St Luc which was round the ridge. It's a fairly level walk giving good opportunities for taking photos.

Looking up towards the Moiry branch of the Anniviers. Becs des Bossons is the peak far right.

Looking right across the Rhone Valley to the Plein Morte Glacier above Crans Montana.

This is the top of Cret du Midi in Vercorin, another Anniviers ski station which is open in summer.

After an hour or so, we were feeling the need for Tarte au Myrtille, so consulted the nearest signpost and headed for the Cabane Bella Tola.

It's a very pleasant venue, and I was eyeing up the potential of spending the afternoon in a deckchair. They even have a portable swimming pool set up. The Tarte was well up to expectations, and fully refreshed we set off to find a pleasant place for a picnic. With some surprise we found a purpose built picnic table with roof. Okay, it seemed to have been built for tall people, but it was a lovely spot, on a beautiful sunny day.

Swiss Critters

Perhaps it was all down to me hiking later in the summer, but this year I have seen rather a lot of the local wildlife, close up. Yes, there was a bit of string between us, but not for long, as that's the way I'm headed! Some of the wildlife was a lot smaller and care was needed to avoid stepping on them. I suppose Frogs find enough to do in the mountains? Perhaps it was on vacation?

I came across a whole gang of butterflies on a path in St Luc. I have no idea what the collective term is, but they were apparently very busy doing stuff!

The local Herens cows fight quite naturally, it's rather like Sumo for cows. They like to push each other, and like most cows seem to be naturally quite inquisitive. The young cows, do seem to want to practice their fighting skills. So when I saw this, there seemed to be only one of two outcomes possible!

Over in Zinal, a plump cat was definitely in charge of photo opportunities, though a local Marmotte put in a strong showing.

 Up on Tsarva in Grimentz, some animals have to work for a living. This was a surprising sight at the Buvette Orzival. I believe this is a proper Mule, loaded down with baggage. Looks quite like a horse, but the head shape is different. The owners of the bags were about 200 metres behind, looking tired and hot.

I'd wondered which way up the party had come, and when hiking up to Bendolla a couple of days later, I saw hoof prints of an animal wearing metal shoes on the "Chemin Rapide" which is the steepest route!

Market Day in Grimentz

Throughout the summer months Grimentz has many themed Markets. It's mostly traditional crafts and local produce, though you can't buy a St Bernard!

Local schoolboys making Hanging Baskets for the Geraniums which adorn the village.

The local Baker always has a Stall, and the produce is pretty tempting. Business seemed quite brisk with tourists and locals stopping by. Perhaps the Baker was specially busy as the Mill was grinding the wheat for the A.O.C flour. My photos don't do the little mill justice, but it's the first time I've seen this running.

There was also a display of traditional Wool spinning, and a pair of sheep in a pen in the old village.

I got the feeling that the sheep had done this before, as they quite liked having their ears tickled! As there was no price tag, I guess that the sheep were not for sale either. I imagine it would be a bit tough getting them through Customs!

The building on the right, directly behind the tiered seating is where the wheat is being milled, it's a water driven mill.

Sunshine and Cow Pats

I've been hiking again, in and around Grimentz. Made my journey a little later this year, to avoid too much mud and snow on the paths. When the snows melt, the cows move in, to get the tasty grass. They bring their own portable milking parlour. The resort is really busy, but as usual, it's easy to avoid the crowds.

It was a very warm 1st day, and I was really surprised that my boots rubbed my heels. Compeed to the rescue!. I have no idea why this happened, and it's not happened since.

Andy arrives on an early flight the next day, so we take a gentle hike around the Naviscence in Zinal. I put a hand in the water to test the temperature, incredibly cold. The cows in Zinal seem much bigger, what do you think?

We walked past the remains of a small avalanche. Andy decides to poke a stick into it, and fails, as it's rock solid.

The cloud is starting to drop, so we head for a coffee and cake!
The next morning is fine and sunny, so we set off for the Cabane Becs des Bossons from Grimentz.

This is a walk that I failed to complete last summer, when there was just too much snow on the path. Soon we reached the snowline, and headed up to the Col.

After we cleared to Col, we spied our lunch stop, and on arrival the clouds descended!

Lunch over, we set off to return to Grimentz, stopping to observe that it's hours to everywhere from here!
The terrain in this area is quite different to what we experience in Grimentz. Far more rolling hills with more gentle paths.


As soon as we are back among the rocks heading for the Pas de Lona we see that we are being watched!

Looking back up to where we crossed the Col, at the end of a fairly long hike.

Tick Tock

It's been 2 months since I had some skis on. I have my boots with me, but my skis are out in Switzerland right now, well, except for a really old pair! Usually I get the urge to go skiing in midsummer, and I have the time, so take a morning drive to Hemel Snow Centre, and call in to the Ski shop underneath the snow slope to see if they have any Demo skis available.

The good news is that they have a few pairs of next winters' stock. The bad news is that they want £15 to demo a pair. The hook for this is that the store will refund the charge, but only against a full priced pair of skis or boots. A minor flaw in their strategy is that they have no stock yet, most stores won't get their stock until September and the "Voucher" issued against the charge is only valid for 3 months! They also want photo ID, which I think is a bit excessive.

Oh well, it is nice to ski on new kit, so I pay up. I was slightly concerned that the member of staff who served me didn't know what the ramp angle was on the Demo bindings, but decided it would make no difference if he did know. The ramp angle would not be zero which is what I need, and it would feel like skiing in high heels!

The skis were okay. but not exceptional, I suppose some of that is my fault as I'm out of practice, and not particularly comfortable on them. The snow slope was in an okay condition, though the "Slow" nets were about a third of the way up the slope, so it cut down the skiing area.

I decided to head down to the store to swap these skis for another pair, and had a real problem getting the electric exit doors from the snow slope to open. Usual arrangement, walk towards door, and doors open. Er...well about 12 cm, and there they stopped. I put my shoulder into the gap and pushed hard to escape!

Down to the store where all the staff seemed to be unpacking store stock and there were plastic bags spread all over the floor, Health and Safety anyone? I ask for assistance, and I'm directed towards the back of the store, where no-one is serving. I wait, and wait.....until my patience evaporates, cross back over the packing materials and resume using the remainder of my paid time slot on the snow slope.

My time's up on the snow, so I rugby tackle the reluctant door again, and make my way to the changing area. One of the Snow Centre's ski teachers stops to chat to me. Tells me that he's not really got used to these wider skis yet. The skis in question are 84mm at the waist, really not very wide, at all.

I should get my £1 coin returned by the changing room locker, but I have no idea where my money went, except to say I don't have it, as it did not drop into the coin return, oh well! Down to the shop to retrieve my hostage credit card, and collect the Voucher, which I have no intention of using! If anyone wants it, please get in touch.

Five Months of Skiing

Well, not 5 months in total, but last winter I managed to ski in 5 different months. Some months were definitely better than others. March and April were rather warm for skiing, but I did my best!I'd like to think that my skiing has improved a little, but it's difficult to judge. Perhaps I'm now on the right equipment for my needs. I did fall over a few times, the most memorable falls were when I had no skis on! Ski boots are not made for walking on ice!

I did try the high traverse on this slope, so some of these tracks are mine. I found it quite steep though.


There was plenty of spring powder to be had, close to the pistes. Once the resort had closed for the season, I headed for Zermatt, staying in a little B&B, and walking up to the Klein Matterhorn lift.

This was a bit of luxury. The new gondola was operating between the base station, all the way to Trockner Steg. A seat all the way!
Last time I was in Zermatt the lift company were building a restaurant at the top of the Klein Matterhorn. It's now complete, and to reach the cafe or toilets, it's necessary to walk through the gift shop, just in case I should feel the need to buy a T shirt or mug! Coffee is good, and the view is wonderful. Much more comfortable than the Portacabin that was here on my last visit.



The glacier slopes were in great condition, but I'd never seen so much of the glacier exposed on earlier visits.


I was summarily fleeced at Trockner Steg. I'd forgotten to put my water bottle in my sack, so paid 6Sfr for a small bottle which was priced up at 80 cents in the supermarkets in the village.

Seeking a better value alternative, I followed an "Open" sign for the Gandegghutte. The piste runs underneath the KM cable car, and some of it is uphill. When I arrived, the staff out laying the tables, went inside and locked the door. One to avoid!

Though the glacier was in great shape, some of the lower runs were a little thin. This slope leads down to Furi from Furgg. Rocks, grass and mud with some wet snow, with a walk out at the end! This is not the village, it's well above it.

I decided to catch the gondola over to Riffelberg and then the train up to Gornergrat. Wonderful views, and it was fun to be on a train as a skier. I raced the train back down to the gondola.

On my way back down to the village one day, the lift company were running the old cable cars, so I was treated to the view of old and new together. Underneath it's possible to see the piste running down to the village. Based on how thin the piste was higher up, I didn't try the ski down.

Dear British Airways

I was caught up in the latest BA industrial dispute. Come to think of it, I was caught up in the last one, and the one before that, but I digress. A couple of days ago, my nerve failed me. I would be 1500km from home with no access to a laptop and only a PAYG mobile phone, before I'd find out if BA were going to run a plane to get me home. Not a good situation, and with potentially limitless costs ahead, and with BA's new reputation for not paying stranded travellers' expenses hitting the tabloids, I've bottled out.

Discussed my options with my OH and we agreed I should get on the phone and move my flights away from BA's ongoing problems. He would have to manage alone, and I would not be arriving by plane/train.

So, after looking through the latest strike list of options from the BA website, observe that they have blocked DIY changes, I'm obliged to phone a call centre.

Problem #1, I'm gullible. The operator can't offer me the dates I want, because the computer says no. She offers me 2 earlier dates, which are no good to me, and I tell her this. I am reassured that it's okay, I can go into the system later and change them. So, having been duly reassured, I agree, and await the email I'd requested to confirm the changes.

Problem #2, I'm trusting. When the email arrives, not only are the dates no good, the return flight is now only 2 days after the outward one, which is utterly useless. I decide to test what the operator has told me the day before and swap them.

Problem #3, As BA appears to have still disabled part of it's website, customers cannot change their travel, you have to keep phoning them.

I'm an Executive Club member, so they are the people who I phone. Up to now, I thought I'd had a few problems, but really that was just chicken feed.

Problem #4
The operator tells me:
That "to change your flight will cost be £60, plus any additional fare costs."
That "you are only allowed 1 change"
That "I'd entered into a new contract"
That "if you cancel you won't get a refund"

So, by now I'd really had just about enough of British Airways. I've naturally done nothing about the flights, they are still a crock.

It's pretty interesting that the rights of passenger seems to be pretty poor with this company. I made a booking in good faith to meet a tight timetable with a scheduled train service which is advance reservation only, and realistically 1 train a day.
Like most of the public, I cast my eye over the booking conditions, but fail to read into any of the weasel words in the sub clauses because it generally takes me into a closed loop, and I have a life.

Why does the schedule play no part in the booking contract ?

When a BA passenger books and pays the money, the company does not have any obligation to deliver to meet the schedule. It's in the small print.

So, for a fair and balanced contract, I should be able to turn up and get on any plane to my destination, yes?

Well no. The airline takes my money, and I enter into a one sided contract. It then runs the plane to it's timetable if I'm really lucky. If not, then I won't get a refund.

As a passenger, it's become a matter of (if) not when I'll arrive.

I'll be searching the web for a decent priced airfare for my return trip.

As for not getting a refund, from reading I've done it seems that like most of the plane companies, BA charge disproportionate sums to refund the Taxes and APD charges paid by travellers that they hold until after we have travelled.

Disabling the website from offering this function, DOUBLES the charge they make on the hapless punter, because the only way to make the cancellation is by phone. Nice little earner, and no wonder the operator in the Executive Club sounded happy.

As for my reservation only onward rail travel with Spain's national rail operator RENFE, I simply cancelled the booking online, paid a single figure admin fee and the money was back in my credit card account in 2 working days. Excellent service. British Airways should take note.

In December 2009, I flew with BA, I had no idea how I would get home, but a judge intervened and declared the strike ballot unlawful.

In March 2010, I flew with BA, well actually I flew with Jet2 and Air Finland. My outward flight was cancelled and it took me an hour and 20 minutes on hold to BA to get a seat on a later flight. I had no real indication of how I'd get back when I left the country, but as long distance public transport at my destination, is plentiful and most requires no advance reservation it's not such an issue.

Of course BA were supposed to email/txt me with details of any cancellations, and I received nothing at all, so have little confidence in their service.

I do not feel that British Airways has any right to expect any loyalty from me or any of the other victims of this fiasco. I have lost a small amount of money in comparison to many travellers. We should have all lost nothing, as it's not our problem.

Patrouille des Glaciers

Whilst in Zermatt recently I was fortunate to see the start of the mountain race between Zermatt and Verbier. This only takes place every 2 years and it's pretty tough. There were hundreds of soldiers in Zermatt to manage the start and the preparations. I was quite surprised at the large numbers of the media there, but when lots of exotic looking skis filled up the ski room in my hotel, I realised it was a pretty big event.

During the afternoon the army band officially opened the event by marching through the village.



The start on this, the first night, was outside the main railway station in the centre of the village, and the main street was fenced and roped off by nightfall.

I bagged a position along the fence near to the start and was in place to see the tape go down and a row of soldiers hold back the racers until the official count down is over. The soldiers make a run for the fence and the competitors surge forwards.



Most of them were wearing trainers, and had their ski boots fixed into their bindings on their skis, strapped onto their packs. As I walked back to the comfort of my (now) quiet hotel, I imagined that I would be having a much better nights sleep than any of the racers (who skied and climbed all night).