01.09 Sorebois to St-Niklaus

20140901 075532 Day 3 (1 September) began with new snow! DSCN2184 Inside we prepared our breakfast and were soon ready to go. DSC00976 The chalet with the gondola terminal behind us. IMG 9093 Be-hatted and be-gloved, Kate is ready to push off!
CIMG3401 We first needed to drop out of the ski area. DSCN2192 Some ibex above us. DSCN2195 We quickly dropped below the snow line and into the larch forests. DSCN2196 Sharon crossing a stream as we near Zinal.
DSC00980 Near the end of the descent, the inner gorge was quick steep. DSCN2197 Surprise: a very crowded bus from Zinal to Vissoie! DSCN2198 We took the bus to Chandolin and then rode the chairlift to Illpass, where we broke for coffee. DSCN2199 The colors are irrestible!
DSC00981 At 2450 m we were back above the snowline. IMG 0573 Jeremy on the trail from Illpass to Pas de l'Illsee (two different languages and passes, separated by a few hundred meters) IMG 0576 Intimations of the coming winter! IMG 5268 Looking back toward the chairlift
IMG 0577 Kate, Sarah and Bri crest the pass. DSC00985 Our group crosses the Röstigraben (aka the internal linguistic frontier) 20140901 115518 A stunning view down to Illsee IMG 1363 The highest peak to the right is Schwarzhorn.
IMG 1365 More Illsee-Schwarzhorn DSCN2203 We start down the pass DSC00988 We will cross the Illsee dam then climb the SW-facing grassy slope above it. DSCN2201 Illsee and flower whose name I once knew
DSCN2205 DSCN2202 Schwarzhorn is more weiss than schwarz IMG 5276 Reflection DSCN2208 Alpage near Illsee
DSC00992 Photo session near Illsee CIMG3407 the Mondales IMG 9115 Kate, Bri, Christine and Sarah IMG 1368 Christine and peak
IMG 1370 Jeremy and peak DSCN2213 The Illsee dam IMG 1373 Climbing the far side to a place called Parilet IMG 1376 Grinding out the vertical
DSC00993 Lunchtime at the top of the ridge IMG 5278 The Meretschisee lakes below the Brunnethorn IMG 9129 Hanspeter giving them a rest IMG 5272 After lunch, we start down and just kept going down!
DSCN2214 Heather DSCN2218 Christine CIMG3411 Passing below Ober Meretschialp DSCN2219 Jeremy with the Oberland
DSCN2221 Dropping into the forest DSCN2222 Coming into Unter Meretschialp DSCN2224 Then the trail went to hell fast! DSCN2225 Very steep and slippery through the Rinderalpwald
DSCN2226 Finally we arrive at Oberems 20140901 163918 A well-deserved rest at the cemetary IMG 5288 Then down the cable car to Turtmann 20140901 170824 By now we have done more than 2200 m of down and we feel it!
IMG 0586 Training it to St-Niklaus IMG 2438 Hanspeter, Sharon, Jeremy and Kate IMG 9137 Is Bri having second thoughts about Jeremy? IMG 9143 Howard Green (L) joins our group at dinner.
IMG 9145 The Perey-Greenwoods at La Reserve restaurant in St-Niklaus