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JULY 11 - 19, 2008
$1675
Dick Ernenwein, Leader
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 TRIP NOW FULL
- CONTACT LEADER TO BE PUT ON
A WAITING LISTThis adventure begins at the Swiss village of Sion on the Rhone River from which we will hike the Val de'Herens. This region is just one valley west of the ADK trip, The Val d'Anniviers, I led in 2005. The Val d' Herens is one of the best preserved and most beautiful valleys in the whole of the Alpine arc. It is one of the longest, measuring 34 KM (21 miles) from the top of the Arolla glacier to the village of Bramois where it reaches the Rhone plain through the deep narrow gorge of Longeborgne. This trek will follow the La Dixence stream through the Val des Dix, passing via the magnificent peat bogs of Essertes and the Grand Dixence dam. We then follow the past of the Ibex, a fascinating trail, with interesting flora and fauna native to the pastures upstream of the dam. The route then crosses the Lac Bleu, a piece of paradise in the heart of a forest of mountain pine and larch, before arriving at Arolla and then Evolene, Les Hauderes and La Sage; authentic villages which breed the Herens cow. Our trek will then take us to the Cabane des Becs de Bossons and the Lac de Lauche where we will be treated to spectacular scenery at altitudes of up to 10,000ft., before finally arriving at Nax. Hiking elevations range from 1600 ft. at Sion to 9630 ft. at Riedmatten Pass (at the top of the Pass, we will be only a few miles from Italy) and to our highest point of 9900 ft. at the Becs de Bosson Hut. We will also probably climb to the peak of one or two mountains on day 2, 6, or 7. The hiking difficulty is moderate with several very strenuous sections. The ascents range from 858 ft. to 5400 ft. and descents from 825 ft. to 5610 ft. The scheduled hiking time each day (hiking time between villages) will be between 4-6 hours. The days we choose to add a peak will increase the hiking time up to 7-8 hours. The Matterhorn, the Dent Blanche, and the Dent d' Herens, all above 14,000 ft., will always be in our view in the background.  We will hike to six different villages with just our day pack. One piece of luggage per person will be moved to the next Inn each day. The night we stay in the Hut where there is no road, we will of course have to bring everything we will need for one night and 2 days of hiking. We will stay in a total of 7 different places. Daily Itinerary Included:
For more information and to sign up, contact the leader, Dick Ernenwein, 4 Commonwealth Ave., Newburgh, NY, 12550, telephone 845-565-3866, E-mail rernenwein@msn.com. |