WALKING IN THE VALAIS
Kev Reynolds
2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY
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
FIESCHERTAL AND THE ALETSCH GLACIER
Walk 1 Fieschertal – Burg Hut – Fieschertal