A wander along an alp

The next day we tried an easier walk, towards the ski area of Vallandry and Plan Peisy. Mostly this was on an agricultural track, once we were up and past the chalets but in part it was walking up a steep grassy path. We appreciated the myriad of wildflowers that are everywhere.

The grasses are left to grow far longer than in Derbyshire, even accounting for making hay which is universal here, rather than the silage at home. Even the cows graze very long grass pastures, where the grasses have seeded, which is unusual in the UK.

Reaching Plan Peisy was reaching a building site. Everywhere there are vans, lorries, holes, dust, timber and chalets being built. It’s as if they can’t help themselves and need to keep developing. Many years ago the Vanois Express cable car was built. Two cars transfer about 180 people in each, across the valley to reach the La Plagne ski network. The joint complex is referred to as Paradiski.

Reaching Vallandry for a quick fond reminder of the 2013 ski trip, we found this place almost deserted. At least they aren’t building too much. I left with a grumpyness because of an awkward café owner at the only hospitality venue open, who couldn’t be bothered to serve just coffee - she was too busy chatting and we didn’t want to eat.

To make it more attractive for her we then said that we would eat and she got into a flap about not having a table that was laid and in the shade.

So I got cross and made it easy for her and we turned and left. Our loss and her’s too.

We slowly walked higher, in the alpine heat and then contoured back towards the meadows high about Les Lanches, where the cat had been drinking from the feed to the trough.

Here there’s an 18C chapel, the focus of many walks, as there were many who had arrived for their picnic lunch. It is quite amazing to see inside.

Then it was a steep walk back down to the campsite but I managed to take the very steep route down a ravine. This required some confidence when crossing the stream, which was wetter than it looks.