The choice today was: To hear the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra (who are here for a series of concerts) rehearse Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 3 in Saas Fee Church for tonight’s concert (which we will miss because we will be eating!), or go on a 7hr high altitude walk to the most isolated and most difficult passes in the Saas valley.
Yesterday’s rehearsal. Wonderful acoustics in Saas Fee church
My wife chose the rehearsal and loved it. I chose the walk (no surprise there) but the clouds came down just as I reached the first of the two passes
Arrival at Pass No 1: Jazzi Pass (Passo di Cinguino). I minute later the clouds descended!
and stayed down well after I started my descent from Pass No 2 (The Antrona Pass).
Arrival at Pass No 2 (The Antrona Pass) – the cloud lifted slightly!
And to compound my day I managed to twist my ankle and tear the anterior filament of the ankle ligament when I had successfully negotiated all the difficult ground and was just walking down the four-wheel track on the final 2miles to the valley floor. Aaarrgghh! Expletive deleted! Nothing too serious – I’m still walking (had to, anyway, to get back down). Should have stayed down to hear the Rachmaninov – one of my favourite concertos!
So what of my day? Two beautiful valleys explored, a tricky ridge negotiated where the next way-mark was hard to spot in the claustrophobic whiteout. Cloud (fog would be a better term) is extraordinarily disorientating. I went for the views of the world beyond and saw none. So that walk goes back on the bucket list of things to do (assuming the Good Lord spares me long enough)!
Low down on the descent of Furggtal
What I did see is what you see here. High alpine meadows carpeted with Alpine Clover.
Alpine Clover on the ascent of Ofental
And a reasonably close encounter with a Chamois.
Chamois in Furrgtal
And a beautiful glacial valley complete with stream and strewn with boulders. Shame about the absence of the view beyond.
Great shot Andy, the only time I get close to a Chamois is when I wash my car.
Ha Mark! They are such graceful creatures and so agile.
Hard luck with the weather Andy – hope the ankle injury doesn’t cause any problems!
Hi Paul. Thanks for commenting. The ankle,bizarrely, has recovered rapidly. I was out walking the next day. Thankfully it was not the major ligament that got damaged.
I think my wife would have chosen the concert and I the walk, too. At least you got some good photos to show for it in spite of the injury.
Thanks Ken. The rehearsal was inspiring according to my wife. I heard the orchestra rehearsing the following day for another concert and the acoustics were superb. I would have loved some images from the ridge looking into Italy. Still, there’s some unfinished business there, looks like I might have to return to the same area again. That certainly won’t be a hardship.
For obvious reasons I’d have been at the Rachmaninov, one of my favourite too, but glad you took the walk to bring us these pictures Andy. Sorry about the ankle.. 😐
Thanks Adrian. Ankle is doing fine. I was out walking the following day.
I hope that ankle recovers soon. Great shots. I especially like the Alpine Clover shot with the back lighting.
Thanks for the comment. I was walking up through this Alpine valley for about an hour – always directly into the morning sun, and the Alpine Clover was just lit up beautifully. That was before the clouds descended and the light disappeared.
Sounds like a dream walk in that kind of light.
Light is everything for sure
Weather always makes the mountains unpredictable, doesn’t it? Of course it may go both ways, but even though you were fogged down this time, it still looks like you had a nice trip, albeit not quite as you had hoped for. I am sure Rachmaninov would have been great, too. Oh, all those choices we have to make in life…
Thanks for commenting Otto. I suppose I could have missed Dinner – but after a 20Km walk I was quite hungry!
Sorry to hear about your injury Andy. You chose the option I would have taken. A hike in beautiful landscapes vs. sitting inside – easy decision. Great images. Love the wildflowers.
Thanks Len.
Beautiful images Andy! I hate the luck of hurting you ankle while you you were out. I hope that it will be fine.
Thanks Phillip. All’s well. One of the perils of high walking on rough ground is an ankle injury. I’ve done it before but thankfully on both occasions I’ve been able to keep walking.
Would have been wonderful to visit these mountains. Wonderful nature I can see from you pictures. I like foggy pictures too, but not in reality.
Thanks Bente. The Alps are beautiful – every valley is different. Fog is not much fun and very disorientating.
gorgeous scenery my friend, well shot and hope the ankle is better now!!
Hi Jim. Many thanks for the comment. Yes – the ankle is fine, thank you.