Les Alpes

This is a first installment of a collection of photographs taken on the GR 5 between June 17th 2014 and June 26th 2014. I started in Les Houches. I encountered more snow than I had bargained for. The climbing was tough especially taking into consideration underfoot conditions. Thunderstorms were never far away and of the ten days I spent in the Alps I had some form of thunders and lightning on five of those days. It was still hot and most of the time I walked in my t shirt and shorts. The earliest the storms came were at one o clock in the afternoon and usually after four, this meant you should have been finished walking for the day and off high ground. 

The highest I climbed to was 2770 meters, that was Col de l'Iseran 9088ft. People were skiing nearby and the ski lifts in action on the 24th June. I have only really been walking for the last four years and this was certainly tough going for me, taking into account I was alone, don't speak French and carrying 15 kg backpack, trying to photograph at the same time while nursing a mild chest infection. It was still fun. I usually liked to start at around 7 am and finish before 4 pm. I stayed in Refuges demi pension which cost varied but around 42 euro. In CAF refuges it cost me a bit less as I am a reciprocal member.

I include a lot of photographs to give you a feeling of the journey, they are mainly in the order that I walked. They are not  included on purely photographic merit but are meant for you to share the journey with me. Over the course of the week more photographs will be added and some deleted as I review the blog. The problem I have with putting captions on the photographs is that I don't have the relevant pages of the guidebook to help me with exact locations, (I tear out pages as I walk). My solution for anyone who wants to know general area is I will list the starting point and finishing point and say it was between those two points, also sometimes I will be able to give exact locations.

Please feel free to make a comment, there is a section at the end of every post that allows you to do so, comments are appreciated.



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I hope you will use and enjoy this new website. I will still continue with my blog as normal. Dermot 21 February 2015

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Near Les Houches

Near Les Houches

A cat with attitude.

Typical Alpine meadow.

How would an Irish Auctioneer describe this.

How would an Irish Auctioneer describe this.

Taken from Les Contamines

Taken from Les Contamines

Taken from Les Contamines

Taken from Les Contamines

A deep fast stream running through a  narrow cut in the rocks

Between Les Contamines and Croix du Bonhomme

Between Les Contamines and Croix du Bonhomme

Between Les Contamines and Croix du Bonhomme

Between Les Contamines and Croix du Bonhomme

Between Les Contamines and Croix du Bonhomme

Between Les Contamines and Croix du Bonhomme

Just follow the footprints

Two cyclists (it takes all sorts), they might be going to Mass.

This is the ridge further on that I slipped off, between Croix du Bonhomme and Plan de la Lai.

This is the ridge further on that I slipped off, between Croix du Bonhomme and Plan de la Lai.

Here on that ridge you can see the normal gr 5 path lower down but it had many snow patches on it, I was advised to take high path. 

 Between Croix du Bonhomme and Plan de la Lai.

 Between Croix du Bonhomme and Plan de la Lai.

Between Plan de la Lai and Refuge de la Balme

Between Plan de la Lai and Refuge de la Balme

Between Plan de la Lai and Refuge de la Balme

Between Plan de la Lai and Refuge de la Balme

Between Plan de la Lai and Refuge de la Balme

Between Plan de la Lai and Refuge de la Balme

Between Plan de la Lai and Refuge de la Balme. For me this was tough going. I was lucky to have tagged along with a French Hiking club, thank you.. Col du Bresson

It was easy for the guy running down.

Between Plan de la Lai and Refuge de la Balme

If I had guidebook - map I could name this refuge, probably Refuge du Bresson 

Towards Refuge de la Blame

Towards Refuge de la Blame

At Refuge de la Blame

What a Wildflower Garden

Bonfire night 21st June at Chalet Refuge de Rosuel, what a backdrop to a bonfire.

Between Refuge de Rosuel and Col du Palet

I am just after using Google Translate, I now know that I had been warned of Rockfalls, not much use to me now.

Between Refuge de Rosuel and Col du Palet

Between Refuge de Rosuel and Col du Palet

Between Refuge de Rosuel and Col du Palet

Between Refuge de Rosuel and Col du Palet

Marmotte, Marmots are large squirrels in the genus Marmota, of which there are 15 species. Marmots mostly live in mountainous areas, such as the Alps, northern Apennines ...

Look CLOSLEY, yes two marmottes standing up, not quite sure what they are doing, it might be private.

Add captionBetween Refuge de Rosuel and Col du Palet

Between Refuge de Rosuel and Col du Palet

At the Col de Palet, notice the young child in the foreground going up to meet the hikers coming down. He is the young son of the Guardian of the Refuge at the Col.  He was brilliant in the snow.

Col du Palet

Refuge du Col du Palet

Lake near Col du Palet

Not a bad way to start a Monday morning, I was a happy man.

You know what they are.

Unusual to get this close to one.

Flowers breaking through the snow where there was a footstep, at Col du Palet

Near Tinges le Lac

A happy man on his way to complete the gr 5.

Another happy man doing the gr 5.

Myself cold and disappointed he Cafe was closed, but happy.

Skiing near Col de L'Iseran

  The road down from Col de L'Iseran

The Valley on way down from Col de L'Iseran

Walking through this tunnel was a bit dangerous because of cars and the relentless number of large motorbikes touring this area.

Very curious animals.

Bonneval sur Arc which is one of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France

Under the shade of an old oak tree in the village Bonneval sur Arc 

 Amazing wildflower meadows on the way out of Bonneval sur Arc, this is probably why the local cheeses are so good. 

Early morning as I am leaving Bonneval sur Arc. 

Those flowers again.

Between Bonneval sur Arc and Termignon

Probably Le Villaron

I once walked with his cousin.

Perfection and to think people pull them out of their gardens.

Stunning.

Alpine village.

On the way to Lanslevillard.

Traditional stone tiled roof.

Close up of those roof tiles,they look like paving stones are a big weight.

I can hear the music from that dreadful musical, but a lovely scene.

Termignon  a skiing resort.

The daily ritual of airing my boots.

Near Le Verney

Near Le Verney

This by pure  coincidence was my last photograph taken on my tour of the French Alps. It is "Aux Enfants de la Commune de Bramans morts pour La France".  I have seen a memorial like this in almost every village I walked through in France. It really was the slaughter of the innocent. I include it here with full respect to all who died and their families. The beautiful mountains and Alpine meadows I have shown in this section were robbed of their children who were led to their slaughter.

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