Mid Summer (and Above the Clouds) in the Alps

There are basically three types of hiking in the Alps.

1. Hiking below tree line.

2. Hiking above tree line.

3. Hiking above the clouds.

The first two categories are straightforward. Experiencing the third category, however, requires a special blend of weather, timing and geography. Fortunately for our guests, the last two weeks have been exceptional for getting above the clouds.

In the first photo, our group of 14 hikers enjoyed ethereal views while descending the famous GR10 long distance hiking trail on our Pays Basque and Pyrénées Trek. The photo shows the stretch of trail between the Refuge Bayssellance and the village of Gavarnie, France in the Haute Pyrénées. Situated at 2,651 meters, the Refuge Bayssellance (our home for one night) is the highest hut in the Pyrénées. The time was 8:20 am when we shot this photo.

In the second photo, Ryder-Walker trip leader Dave Gruss pauses above the Lunghinsee, a dramatically situated mountain lake in the Engadine region of eastern Switzerland. The Lunghinsee, (Lac de Lunghin in French) sits at 2,484 meters—just 300 meters shy of the summit of the Piz Lunghin (2,780 meters). The Piz Lunghin is a very popular climb on our Engadine Trek and Engadine Summit Series hikes. (Image by Mike Thurk.)