Alittlebitoutoffocus

Alittlebitoutoffocus

I think it’s fair to say that a lot of my walks are determined by the weather. Forecasts in central Europe are generally quite accurate, so whenever the Swiss méteo says e.g. Monday will be sunny, it usually is. This was the case for last Monday and, having not been up the Arolla valley for a while, I decided to do a circular walk up to the Cabane de la Tsa (@2,611m or 8,566ft) from the tiny hamlet of La Monta.

Again the route was on a south facing slope, so there was very little snow to negotiate as I approached the hut and social distancing wasn’t an issue either as I didn’t see a soul all the way around.

On the way to and from La Monta, the views were so nice and clear that I stopped the car to take a few photographs and they are numbered 1-3 and 35 & 36 in the gallery. I hope you enjoy the walk!

14 responses

  1. blhphotoblog Avatar
    blhphotoblog

    I can only but guess what happens when you flush the loo!

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    1. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
      Alittlebitoutoffocus

      Flush? I suspect it’s just a big hole… (I didn’t go to look!) Some of the cabanes have very little water and so they have chemical toilets, others I guess just rely on gravity… (Surprising really for such a ‘clean’ country).

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    2. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
      Alittlebitoutoffocus

      Just been for a run along the riverside and spotted a blue butterfly. Not sure which one exactly and I had no camera with me obviously. (I also saw one on this walk and on the way to the Pointe de Tsate the other day, but they were too quick for me to capture). Also, there were at least 2 Alpine Accentors on two different chalet balconies as I walked back through the village. Thought you might be interested. 😊

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      1. blhphotoblog Avatar
        blhphotoblog

        They breed them butterflies tough up there!

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        1. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
          Alittlebitoutoffocus

          Yes, they must. Though we have got a good spell of weather here at the moment with temperatures in the mid teens, though it feels much warmer in the bright sunshine.

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  2. Bug Woman Avatar
    Bug Woman

    What a lovely walk, as usual…are those black cattle the famed local ones?

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    1. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
      Alittlebitoutoffocus

      Indeed yes. They are stout of body and short of leg. A great design for pushing and shoving when ‘fighting’, which is simply them sorting out who lies where in the pecking order. They only take on another cow once, as after that the loser knows who’s boss. Though I did hear that the local lads occasionally play a little trick on them by swapping the bells, so it all kicks off again. Each cow obviously has a good ear for which bell sounds are above and below them in the hierarchy. You often see a cow move away when another approaches, even though they are looking the other way.

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  3. bayphotosbydonna Avatar
    bayphotosbydonna

    Breathtaking panoramic views, Mike, just love those snow-tops! I was going to mention the toilet too, sure looks like you literally go while the toilet building hangs on to the mountain with cables. I don’t think I could ‘go’ in it! LOL 😉

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    1. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
      Alittlebitoutoffocus

      Thank you Donna. I’m glad you enjoyed the pics. You certainly would have to trust those cables!

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  4. andrewgeorgephotography Avatar
    andrewgeorgephotography

    Another set of fantastic images Mike, but that toilet worries me, I think I’d hold it in and go later lol

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    1. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
      Alittlebitoutoffocus

      Thanks Andrew. I should have had a look inside and maybe taken a picture. But it did look a little ‘perched’! 😉

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  5. Six Blanc and Mont Brûlé Walk, Val de Bagnes, Switzerland | Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
    Six Blanc and Mont Brûlé Walk, Val de Bagnes, Switzerland | Alittlebitoutoffocus

    […] have finished the gallery with a slightly more modern ‘WC’ than the one I posted in my Cabane de la Tsa walk last week. That photo created a lot of interest, so I thought I’d redress the balance, just in case you […]

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  6. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    Lots of buzz around the water closet! It is eye catching, even the loo in this region is fetching. Beats the hard plastic structures we have out this way. These photos are excellent, Mike. I love that you captured the town in the valley below the towering mountains!

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    1. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
      Alittlebitoutoffocus

      Yes, from up high, they look like model villages. I hope you’ve checked out my latest photo of a WC…(?)

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