Walking in the Valais. Kev Reynolds

      

      WALKING IN THE VALAIS

      Kev Reynolds

      2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY

      www.cicerone.co.uk

      About the Author

      Kev Reynolds is a freelance writer, photojournalist and lecturer whose first title for Cicerone Press (Walks & Climbs in the Pyrenees) appeared in 1978 and is still in print. He has published many books on the Alps, a series of trekkers’ guides to Nepal and, nearer to home, several guides on walking in southern England. He also writes regular features for the outdoor press, produces brochures for tourist authorities, and leads walking and trekking holidays in various high-mountain regions. The first honorary member of the British Association of European Mountain Leaders (BAEML), and a member of the Alpine Club, Austrian Alpine Club and Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild, Kev’s enthusiasm for the countryside in general, and mountains in particular, remains undiminished after more than 50 years of activity. When not trekking or climbing in one of the world’s great ranges, Kev lives among what he calls ‘the Kentish Alps’, and during the winter months regularly travels throughout Britain to share that enthusiasm through his lectures. Check him out on www.kevreynolds.co.uk.

      Other Cicerone guides by the author

      100 Hut Walks in the Alps

      A Walk in the Clouds

      Alpine Pass Route

      Alpine Points of View

      Central Switzerland

      Chamonix to Zermatt, Walker’s Haute Route

      Écrins National Park

      Everest: a Trekker’s Guide

      Kangchenjunga: a Trekker’s Guide

      Langtang, Helambu & Gosainkund: a Trekker’s Guide

      Manaslu: a Trekker’s Guide

      The Bernese Alps

      The Cotswold Way

      The North Downs Way

      The Pyrenees

      The South Downs Way

      The Swiss Alps

      Ticino – Switzerland

      Tour of Mont Blanc

      Tour of the Jungfrau Region

      Tour of the Oisans: GR54

      Tour of the Vanoise

      Trekking in the Alps

      Trekking in the Himalaya

      Walking in Kent

      Walking in Sussex

      Walking in the Alps

      Walks & Climbs in the Pyrenees

      Walks in the Engadine – Switzerland

      Walks in the South Downs National Park

      © Kev Reynolds 1989, 1994, 2003 2014

      Fourth edition 2014

      ISBN: ISBN-13: 978 1 85284 733 3

      Third edition 2003

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 388 5

      Second edition 1994

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 151 5

      First edition 1989

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 016 7

      Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.

      Dedication

      To all who go to the mountains to find peace and spiritual refreshment – may you be fulfilled.

      Advice to Readers

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. If we know of any, there will be an Updates tab on this book’s page on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.

      Front cover: High above Bettmeralp an old moraine ridge is the perfect vantage point from which to study the Grosser Aletschgletscher (Walks 5 & 6)

      CONTENTS

       Mountain safety

       Preface to the fourth edition

       INTRODUCTION

       The Valais region

       The valleys

       Getting there

       Transport within the Valais

       Accommodation

       Weather

       Notes for walkers

       Suggested equipment

       Recommended maps

       Using this guide

       Grading of walks

       FIESCHERTAL AND THE ALETSCH GLACIER

       Walk 1 Fieschertal – Burg Hut – Fieschertal

       Walk 2 Fieschertal – Gletscherstube Märjela