Welcome to a day in the mountains with Expatriate Law. As part of your trip to Chamonix you have the chance to experience the winter landscape with a hike into the mountains. This is a truly spectacular part of the world, where a day exploring brings numerous rewards. The breathtaking scenery with sparkling glaciers and snowy spires, the soaring jagged peaks and a valley brimming with the culture of the Haute Savoie region.
You have the choice of joining two different hikes which most likely will be done on snowshoes. Snowshoeing is simply hiking in winter, whereby we attach snowshoes to our hiking boots. This makes walking so much easier as you do not sink so far into the snow. We will supply all the necessary equipment, and you will bring your own warm clothes and small rucksack to carry a few items.
After our hike in the snow those who have chosen a more 'relaxed' day out will have lunch at a local farm in the valley, and those who have chosen the more challenging hike will enjoy an amazing experience with lunch high in the mountains at a French Refuge.
The snowshoeing, throughout the week, was both challenging and rewarding. The guide ensured clients had the best possible experience within their limitations, while maintaining their safety throughout. The family-run hotel was an excellent base, with superb mountain views and delicious food. Mont Blanc provided a spectacular backdrop, viewed from so many different angles.
I just wanted to say what a great trip we had last week. I can honestly say that it was one of the best trips I have done. The chalet was lovely and Jo, Angie and Dorrie were all helpful. The food was fantastic,the best vegetarian food I have had in France! And Gary, our guide, well what do I say. He was knowledgeable,fun and enthusiastic. We all felt very safe with him in all aspects.
The week was fantastic; wonderful organisation, chalet, weather, transport arrangements, and brilliant guide in Gary who could not have done more to look after us in every way. Definitely 10/10 for the rating and would always wish to book with you in the future.
We plan to do a lovely circular walk up the Berard Valley above the small hamlet of Le Buet. The trail takes us up the mountainside to climb alongside a cascade of ice where climbers can often be seen practising their skills. We pass nearby the Grotte À Farinet a small cave which was a temporary sanctuary for Joseph-Samuel Farnit, a kind of Robin Hood of Switzerland who forged money and gave it to the poor. Wandering through the forest we pass open glades, and snowy banks covered in blue water ice. Taking a circular route we arrive at the secluded hamlet of Les Granges. Ancient traditional buildings where in summer the local people spend their time and grew vegetables, and raised livestock. Eventually, we wander back down to the valley and head for lunch at a local farm.
Ascent: 216m (708ft) Descent: 252m (827ft) Distance: 5.6 km (3.5 miles) Duration: 3.5 - 4 hrs
Meeting Point: We will confirm the meeting point and time one week before the date of the activity. Most likely this will be at the main train station in Chamonix, France as participants are staying at various hotels across the town. Your guide will arrive with the snowshoe equipment required and this can be distributed in the arrival hall at the train station. Remember you will need to bring a small rucksack to carry certain items. If you do not have a rucksack please notify us well in advance and it may be that we can supply one.
Refuge de Loriaz, our goal for today for lunch, lies high on the mountain above the hamlet of Vallorcine. The Vallorcine valley, which means ‘valley of the bears', used to be cut off during the winter months due to being located between two mountain passes. Unfortunately, because the locals used to pay their taxes in bear meat there are none left today! The Valley is just a short distance over the Col des Montets, but it feels very different to the main Chamonix Valley. Hearsay has it that the locals preferred to be know as 'Vallorcians', and are an independent type of people, perhaps due to being isolated for up to four months of the year. We leave the village to climb steadily through the larch forest until we reach the open mountainside of the alpage at Loriaz. The Refuge de Loriaz sits at 2020m (6627ft) and is normally open in the winter and is a welcome break for hot chocolate and cake! From the terrace of the Refuge the views to the Mont Blanc Massif are truly stunning, and it does feel as though we are really 'high' in the mountains with the 'blue' ice of the waterfalls on the cliffs nearby glinting in the sunlight.
It is always our aim to complete the proposed itinerary outlined above, however, it may be necessary for our guides/instructors to adjust the daily itinerary based on the weather conditions, group safety and enjoyment.
Activity, Injury and Mountain Rescue
It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical expenses, injury, illness, death, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. For all of our trips your insurance must also cover mountain rescue. The exception to this is if the trip is being held in the United Kingdom or Norway where mountain rescue is free of charge. Please ensure that your insurance covers you to the maximum altitude given on your trip itinerary. The maximum altitude for any trip can be checked on the 'At A Glance' box on each trip page.
Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance
You should also have insurance to cover trip cancellation and curtailment. Insurance should be booked as soon as we have confirmed that your trip is going ahead. Note that your deposit and balance payments are non-refundable unless it is Tracks and Trails who cancel the trip due to a failure to reach the required minimum numbers. In this case we will offer you a refund or the option of transferring to another trip if one is available. We also advise that you should have insurance which covers baggage loss/equipment damage as Tracks and Trails will not be held responsible for loss/damage to baggage/equipment.
All of the above insurances are detailed in our Terms and Conditions. For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.
Winter mountain weather in the European Alps can vary considerably, and in this respect it is no different to any mountain environment where the terrain influences the weather and it can change from valley to valley.
In winter the weather can deliver everything from clear blue skies, and glorious sunshine, to heavy snowfall and strong winds. Essentially, as with all mountain journeys, you should be prepared for any eventuality.
Temperatures vary depending on the month, generally December, January, and February are colder, but by March and April the temperatures are warming up and spring is on the way.
In December and January they can range from -10°Celsius (14°F) to 3°Celsius (37.4F), in February from -5°Celsius (23°F) to 7°Celsius (44.6°F), and in March from 0°Celsius (32°F) to 13°Celsius (55.4°F).
The above figures are a general indication only as the weather can vary considerably year on year for any given month.
Clothing for snowshoeing should be equivalent to that used for walking in the mountains in winter. For this trip all the necessary snowshoe equipment is provided. This includes snowshoes, walking poles, snow probe, snow shovel, and avalanche transceiver. The carrying of this safety equipment is compulsory and demonstrates ‘best practice’.
We have provided a check list below which will help to ensure you have an enjoyable and comfortable day out.
Equipment - we supply the following
Equipment - you need to bring
Clothing
Comfort
Documentation
We go to great lengths to work with first class guides who are passionate about their work. They are all fully qualified, insured, and hold the correct documentation.
Please note your snowshoe guide has complete discretion to make a daily decision on whether or not to take the advertised route based on the weather and the ability of the members of the group. They have our authority to make any route changes they believe are necessary in the interests of safety and enjoyment. This is particularly relevant in a winter environment where the snowpack can change on a daily basis.
Your guide will be a fully qualified and experienced International Mountain Leader. International Mountain Leaders are not only qualified to ensure the safe management of the group, but are also a source of knowledge about the local flora and fauna, and traditions of the area which you are visiting. You can learn more about our guides and instructors on the About Us page.
The plan for today is that those enjoying the more relaxed winter hike will make their way to Les Trois Ours, in Vallorcine for lunch. The cost of lunch is not included to allow you to choose whichever local delicacy you fancy!
For those doing the longer hike to Refuge de Loriaz the aim is to have lunch in this old mountain hut high in the mountains. Some true mountain hospitality and local produce to be savoured. Lunch is on you, so you can sample as much as you like!
Tracks and Trails pays guides/instructors a fair and appropriate fee for their professional service. However, if you feel your guide/instructor has provided an excellent service that went 'above and beyond' then it is at the discretion of each guest whether to tip or not. Guests will often give a tip of between 2 - 5 per cent of the total value of their trip. It is entirely up to you and any gesture will no doubt be appreciated no matter the size.
Before booking consider whether you expect to be in the appropriate physical condition on the date of your departure to allow you to fully participate in and enjoy your holiday. If you have any doubts because of an illness or injury it would be advisable to check with your doctor.
For UK residents travelling to an EU country you should obtain and bring with you a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment in certain European countries, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance.
If you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC to replace it. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Please check this before departing. We advise that you always carry your insurance documents with details of the Emergency Medical telephone number for your insurance provider, and your policy number.
We feel strongly about protecting the environment and do not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We would ask that you arrive with a ‘water bottle’ or ‘hydration system’ that can be used repeatedly. We would point out that we operate a ‘zero tolerance’ for rubbish, and would ask you to remove all your rubbish items from the mountain even those you consider to be bio-degradable. In particular we ask that you remove any toilet tissue.
You can read our full policy here.
Note there are two different hiking/snowshoeing days to choose from. If you would like to book the more relaxed day described in the itinerary, this can be found under Trip Information, then book the trip labelled 'RELX'. If you would like a day in the higher mountains then please click on the trip labelled 'MNTN" to book.
Code | Start date | Return date | Dates | Price | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RELX | Sat 22 Mar | Sat 22 Mar |
Sat 22 Mar - Sat 22 Mar Code: RELX |
Price: £100 | Spaces available | Book |
MNTN | Sat 22 Mar | Sat 22 Mar |
Sat 22 Mar - Sat 22 Mar Code: MNTN |
Price: £100 | Spaces available | Book |
The snowshoeing, throughout the week, was both challenging and rewarding. The guide ensured clients had the best possible experience within their limitations, while maintaining their safety throughout. The family-run hotel was an excellent base, with superb mountain views and delicious food. Mont Blanc provided a spectacular backdrop, viewed from so many different angles.
I just wanted to say what a great trip we had last week. I can honestly say that it was one of the best trips I have done. The chalet was lovely and Jo, Angie and Dorrie were all helpful. The food was fantastic,the best vegetarian food I have had in France! And Gary, our guide, well what do I say. He was knowledgeable,fun and enthusiastic. We all felt very safe with him in all aspects.
The week was fantastic; wonderful organisation, chalet, weather, transport arrangements, and brilliant guide in Gary who could not have done more to look after us in every way. Definitely 10/10 for the rating and would always wish to book with you in the future.
From Price | £100 |
Holiday Type | Snowshoeing |
Duration | 1 Days |
Group Size | 6-8 |
Countries Visited | France |
On all our trips in the Alps we use snowshoes made by TSL. We find they are versatile and well-designed for the job. This link shows the 'Symbioz Access' model which is what you will normally be supplied with. There is now a huge range of models produced by TSL and all have slight variations on the design. It's a whole new world!
Excellent aerial footage showing Chamoinx town and valley under snow.
A photo and film montage of snowshoeing in the Alps. A taste of what is in store during this wonderful week exploring the mountains in winter. Pack your sense of fun and adventure!