vallon de nant | Via Alpina 2013

7am leaving Auberge communal Pont de Nant.

Derborence marked 5h10. La vare marked 1h40.Anzeindaz marked 3h25

8:10am La Vare 1756m. Anzeinde marked 1h25.Col des Essets marked 1h.Derborence marked 3h

9:05am Col des Essets 2029m.Anzeindaz marked 20min.Pas de Cheville marked 1h10.Derborence marked 2h

9:35am 1857m reached alpage Anzeindaz. Le Godet marked 2h25

Going up smoothly to Pas de la Cheville in the alpage by the sound of cow bells with the Diablerets Massif on the left side.

10:10am 2038m Pas de la Cheville.Derborence marked 50min

Leaving Vaud to enter Valais now

11am 1513m Derborence lake in sight…expected something nicer…
Col du Sanetsch marked 4h40

Near Derborence lake, there is one authorized camping spot (see map below).
The GPX file downloaded in June 2013 is following the road (longer).The trail white-red-white take a sharp right turn near the lake and through forest (way nicer)

11:45am 1370m Le Godey.Col du Sanetsch marked 4h05

12:40am Leaving Le godey. It goes up in a valley towards massive rocks.Via alpina here will get very steep then a little climbing vertical is needed.Ropes & a ladder make it safe & helpful.Effort is short

2:15pm 1960m Poteu des Etales.Great panoramic view on Derborence lake,glacier des Diablerets.
Tsanfleuron marked 1h35.Col du Sanetsch marked 2h05.Prarochet cabane 2h

2:40pm Mie decide to go off Via Alpina and do a little detour by Cabane Prarochet.

4pm 2533m reached Cabane du Prarochet. It is open there are people inside…Lots of snow up here. Great day..black clouds all over now.

Distance covered : 25,7km
Walking time : 6h55
Resting time : 2h10
Date : monday 8th July 2013
Altitude : 2555m
Weather : hot & sunny until 3pm when light rain and black clouds showed up

Bed is 29CHF
Been asked 9CHF for 1.5L of water

Vallon de la Vare

Les diablerets massif from Col des Essets

Anzeinde alpage

Near Derborence lake

Authorized Camping place near Derborence & le godey map

Chalet near Le godey. Les diablerets glacier behind

Going up steeply to Scex rouge/col de Sanestch

Going up vertical now

On the way up to cabane du Prarochet

Cabane du Prarochet 2533m

Left Cabane Scex Carro 8:30am.Very welcome there by Fabrice.

8:45am Scex Carro great panoramic view on Martigny,Mont Blanc, Sion vallee and Dents du midi all together.

9:30am Portail de Fully 2267m. Great panoramic view. Col du Demecre marked 55mins

10:10am Le Diabley.
highest point 2444m awesome 360 panoramic view. Dent de Morcles in sight. Leman lake in sight.Lacs de Fully also in sight.

10:35am Col du Demecre et Cabane 2361m.Rionda marked 1h50.La Tourche marked 2h15

11am Le Dzeman 2058m.Rionda marked 1h20.La Tourche marked 1h45 up right.Down left L’Au d’Arbignon 55mins.

Refuge de Demecre recommended me to go lower and avoid the potentially dangerous neves on the upper trail to Rionda.

11:25am Chalet neuf 1858m. Nice & talkative owner with his wife. Told me it was ok now to pass by the upper part (no more danger). Dorenaz ski club also own this place only 12CHF for a bed.

12am L’alpage de L’Au d’Arbignon low point 1649m.Selling local cheese called Serac here (10CHF/kg)

Young sheeperd are taking care of this alpage.Jeremy and girlfriend Marion in their early 20s are learning the sheeperd job for there first year from Jean Henri 35 years old.

Videotaped a lot here. The 3 of them explained a lot about the alpage work here in Valais. The Serac and Tomme cheese making. They are making the cheese on site in the alpage.

Jeremy & Marion are young & enthusiastic. Willing to learn and keep the sheeperd tradition here in Valais.

Jean Henri is a kind of mentor for the 2 youngs. He’s been sheeperd for 10years now.He was working for the Swiss post office before.

But as he told me : “Now having less revenu but a stress free life”

Really greatful i took a detour at l’alpage de l’au d’Arbignon. Very interesting encounter.
They sale cheese and also offer accomodation (15CHF for a bed – 10 are available).

Really worth a detour to stay overnight at Alpage L’Au de l’Arbignon if looking for off the beaten track experience on the via alpina.

The alpage here in Valais are own by the town or village who lend it to the sheeperd.

2:05pm leaving l’alpage de l’Au d’Arbignon

3:05pm 2156m Rionda old Swiss army barracks.La Tourche marked 20mins.Pont de Nant marked 3h30

3:25pm 2181m La Tourche.Nice location for this cabane but quite big and ugly (modern style)

Few neves left on both side of Col des Perris Blancs

4:25pm 2514m Col des Perris Blancs.Entering protected area “Reserve naturelle du Vallon de Nant”.

Amazing view from here on the “Tete Noire” peak & Dent Favre

Hiking trail around is Tour des Muverans

Leaving Valais to enter Vaud county.

5:10pm Les Martinets 2087m.Pont de Nant marked 1h45

Sliding down on the snow was fun. After crossing river stream,via alpina goes down smoothly on a wide path.

6:10pm Nant 1500m.Few black cows around in the alpage.Think the sheeperd not here because spot a group of 10 unscared Chamois including a very young one. They came down just right where the cows are.

Pont de Nant marked 45mins

Heard thunder on the way down by the water stream and through forest.
The hot shower I am dreaming of might turned out to be a cold one. Nevermind the soap is ready.

6:50pm few drops of refreshing rain

Got to Pont de Nant alpine botanical garden…nice open air roof there (perfect to pitch a tent) 🙂

Checked the botanical garden huts.One is open and there is electricity & water available

Saw 2 girls outside a nearby chalet.

The 2 girls father is the alpine botanical garden gardener.13years of work for this piece of art

Visiting the alpine garden..just found water. The gardener leaving too close..will probably get mad if pitching..may be will be ok if ask for permission…

Going to ask nearby Auberge communal about price. 25CHF for dorm bed,hot shower,electricity,soap and sattelite wifi…can’t say no to that much comfort 🙂

7:10pm in for a long hot shower at Pont de Nant Auberge communal. One unusual thing here is that there is an open air jaccuzzi available for guests…

Distance walked : 23,8km
Walking time : 6h10
Resting time : 4h35
Altitude : 1288m
Date : sunday 7th july 2013
Weather : hot and sunny most of the day