August alpine trekking in the Samoens area of the French Alps

In preparation for my IML summer assessment (International Mountain Leader's Award / Accompagnateur's qualification) I headed out to the Alps for some flower spotting, acclimatisation and a bit of a holiday.

Amazing alpine trekking near Chamonix

With my Samoens IGN 1:25 000 map in hand my first decision was what routes would be most interesting, allow me to cover lots of ground and explore as much of the assessment area as possible.  Not only is it useful to have some idea of where things are on the ground in the assessment region e.g. huts, cols; but it means you can get to grips with the different paths, flowers that are out, and get your eye adjusted to the local maps.

I was lucky enough to see lots of Chamois (as above) and Ibex on my weeks in the Alps this year.

20/08/14
Tete de Bostan Circuit, from Le Pied de Cret, past the Bostan refuge, to the col de Bostan, over the Tete des Verdets, Tete de Bostan and down the ridge to the Golese hut and back. 18km, 1560m ascent.

Views from the way up to the Tete de Bostan

21/08/14
Folly, Lac de Vogealle circuit.  From Le Cret, up the front face to the Folly Refuge - more exciting as it was damp. 20km, 2070m ascent.

More beautiful alpine paths above Samoens

That faint line across the shale is the path!

22/08/14
An easier rest day around the tourist signed route in the Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval valley.  This was a great day in the sun, learning about the nature reserve, the geology and I managed to pick up a local English guidebook of walks in the area.  9km, 170m ascent.

The famous Cirque de Fer a Cheval near Sixt

23/08/14
A long day exploring the Sales, Anternes area of the map.  From Le Lignon, to Lac d'Anterne, over the back and down to Moede Anterne hut, down les Argentieres to Chalets de Souay, over the Passage De Derrochoir - very exciting scrambling, and back via the Sales refuge.  22km, 1700m ascent.

This Chamois hopped off the path right in front of me on the way down from the Sales hut

Exciting 200m vertical stretch of fixed equipment on the Passage de Derochoir.

24/08/14
Another longish day, but with duller overall scenery around the Lac de Gers and Pelouse plateau above Flaine from the Sixt valley. 20km, 1630m ascent.

Looking across alpine meadows to the Lac des Gers

The view towards Chamonix between clouds from above Flaine

25/08/14
The best day so far, a super long trail running circuit from our new book around the Varan and Plates refuges.  From Bay (above Passy / Sallanches), up to the Aiguille de Varan - an airy little scramble, and down across the crazy limestone pavement to the Plates refuge.  Down the exhilarating descent and back across to the van.  18km, 1500m ascent.

The ascent is up the valley nearer the bottom right of the picture, across the limestone pavement on center left and down between the crag top center left.

The amazing descent path

26/08/14
A very rainy day off in Chamonix.  In the run up to the UTMB there were a few running pop up stores open, but due to the rain I only stopped at a few of the open ones.

Selfie!

27/08/14
Walking in Verbier for the first time since Spring. 32km, 1500m ascent.  From la Chaux, around the sentier de Chamois, over the cols to the base of the Rosablanche, down to Tortin, up col de Chassoure and back.

View from just above La Chaux, Verbier.

Ibex on the sentier des Chamois walking route

28/08/14
An admin and rest day in Verbier, final bits of research to do and sleep in preparation for the exam in a few days.

A Kerner's Lousewort

29/08/14
Trail running on a different route from the same book, from the Col de Forclaz, past the Trient glacier over the Fenetre d'Arpette and around via Champex.  Incredible but busier.  21km, 1800m ascent.

Green mountains above the Trient village

The path that takes you up to the Fenetre D'Arpette

30/08/14
Chilled day finishing off revision and catching up with mates and last week's candidates.

Views typical of the alpine trekking in the Samoens area

31/08/14
Last minute navigation and ropework practice around the Folly hut area before the new week starts tomorrow. 10km, 800m ascent.

1-4/09/2014
The IML summer assessment - read next blog post for more.

Trient Glacier

Totals:
Days: 12 days, 10 of which were out on the hill, 8 of which were long hill days
KMs: 170km
Ascent: 12 730m ascent
Flowers spotted: lost count, over 100 - most exciting were the Mount Cenis Bellflower and Kerner's Lousewort (how sad am I!!!)
Animals seen: Ibex, Chamois, Marmot, Squirrel, people!
Birds seen: lots, I still don't know what they all are!

Best route:
Has got to be the Varan Plates day - long, but incredible, technical, quiet and amazing. 

Dark clouds in the distance bring and end to the sun - this has been one of the worst alpine summers in years.

Route to go back there for:
I never managed to get to do the Mt. Buet circuit.  Having been there in winter, I would love to do a summer hit, next year...