What a great trip this turned out to be. A perfect location and a perfect group of people arrived perfectly happy and ready to enjoy a the perfect Saas Valley. (To see some of the photos please click here )Within minutes of arriving the group found the metro bar and settled in as if they were locals. Mondyay morning dawned perfect, with clear blue skies highlighting the snow capped mountains perfectly. The harder groups headed off up Mallig a stunning hill that over looks the village and provides a perfect intoduction to the area, manwhile Mr G took his group around the Saas Valley, even stopping a a mountain cafe!!! Before returning back to the perfect hotel artemis for dinner. Day 2 also dawned perfectly although some fluffy clouds appeared later over the Itallian border. Today we all headed out to Mattmark, where some of us headed up to the monte moro Pass and Italy a stunning day that saw mini mouse doing an interesting impression of Bambi on ice. Meanwhile the others were sacraficing people to the mountain cattle on the narrow mountain bridges in a bid to appease the weather gods above!
On Wednesday we were pushing our luck for a third perfect day, but we got it and headed off to Zermatt! From here some went up to the Gernergratt Glacia overlooking the most perfect mountain in the world "The Matterhorn" before sacraficing a person to the electric taxis of Zermatt whilst trying to keep the weather gods on side. Meanwhile the intrepid indestructables toiled their way ever upwards to the impressive heights of the Ober Rotthorn, and thankfuly due to the altitude we finally got some peace and quiet to enjoy the hills, note to self all walks with Jen should be above 12000ft!!!!
After a long day out in the hills we were due for a day off, and so a nice relaxing evening began in the knowledge that we didnt have an early start ahead-but that just meant one thing-party!!! So off to the worm, then an innocent voice says, come back to mine I have some baileys-not to self -next time NO!!!
And so it was that our day off began somewhat slowly, the weather too had broken, but the tv showed blue skies at the highest lift so up we went to the Allalinhorn summit!! And true to form, no rain more blue skies,-only perfect!!!
Unfortunately the week was speeding passed far to fast and the next day dawned with ..... no blue skies and fresh snow!!! So off we went, the mountaineers tackling the Jegihorn, which emerged from the cloud so we climber it!!!! Meanwhile the others enjoyed the Almegalalp valley and sacraficed another person to the goats, in a bid to bring the weather gods back on side!! But today was a special day and Shaun the ballon was carried to the summit by the birthday girl herself, Jenny-and despite all the rocks scrambles and climbs, blue Shaun made it all the way up and back without bursting!!! But the celebrations continued into the night, to the Living room and on to the worm, happy B'day Jen!
And so it all comes to an end, our final day, and yes it started off with rain.. boo, but the waterfalls were stunning and the views did emerge so we all managed to make the most of a rather damp day. In many ways it helped too, cos we returned relatively early and made preparations for the last nights Red and White Party Nite!!! A superb way to finish!!!
On Sunday with bags packed the sun shone!!! But we didnt have to leave straight away, with an early flight, some headed off for a spot of down hill, mountain scootering-one without brakes!!! Whilst some of us were tempted back up into the high hills with dreams of mounaineering in some stunning alpine conditions, but after an hour and onely managing 800m it kind of broke down into a free for all snowball fight, I suppose it was the only perfect way to finish!!!
Thanks to everyone for such an amazing time, it was fantastic!! See you next year, Zell am See?????