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It’s SnowJoke, The Alps Can Be AsMuch FunWithout the Powder


Kate Morfoot, leading travel writer and founder of www.LoveToEatToTravel.com explores The Alps in the Summer.


The cows are grazing on the lush green grass high up in the mountains near Morzine in France. The sky is blue and the wildflowers are mesmerising, wafting in the welcome breeze under the burning sun to the sound of cowbells ringingwhile chewing on the cud of the verdant alpine pastures.


This picturesque sight with Mount Blanc sitting proudly in the background rang true as all that I imagined holidaying in the French Alps in the summer would be like. The Sound of Music and Heidi both came to mind while I spent a few minutes to catch my breath during a hike from Les Plattes up towards Point D’Uble with a group of French hiking enthusiasts. Led by Veronique, a sprightly 50-something, who feeds off the mountains, collecting wild garlic, thyme and other herbs togetherwith alpine strawberries for jamand pine berries to make the famous alcoholic tipple Sabine, she is leading eight of us, (one of whom is 82 years old), up through an alpine forest.


“We are taking it steady today” said Veronique, “A couple of the group are doing the LeMountagneHard on Saturday. It’s a 42km race uphill to 3364mthatwill take themno less than ten hours.” Taking it steady? I dreaded to think how fast this lot would go when they are not taking it steady. I managed to keep up with Veronique, but living in comparatively flat Norfolk to practically running up mountains with two poles requires a different level of athletic fitness to what I’m used to!


Needless to say the mountains are there to be explored in the summer and what better way than on foot? The air was fresh and the scenery was incredible with fields of wildflowers that included the stunning tall yellow flowers of native herb Gentian and buttercups.


On return from my wonderful three hour hike and taking in the ‘breath-taking’ scenery, I had a welcome rest at restaurant, ‘La Tapiaz’ which specialises in cooking with plants, fruits, herbs and berries collected by our hiking hostess. We dined on tomatoes with vinaigrette, herb infused fillet of local trout, guinea fowl with vegetables andwonderful ‘Pain Perdu’ (lost bread) soaked in cream and absinthewith rhubarb puree and summer berries picked from the mountains.


It’s a popular alpine stop-off for hikers in the summer as well as skiers in the winter. I enjoyed relaxing in the warm sun while listening to the chitter-chatter of the locals drinking cider and homemade Japanese tea. There’s no doubt thatmountain holidays are best known known for skiing holidays but as a skier, I myself can now appreciate that the Alps are there to be enjoyed all year round.


Morzine was our base for a week. It is located within the Portes du Soleil ski area that covers 13 ski resorts across France and Switzerland.With 650 kilometres of pistes linked by over 200 ski lifts these are accessible to everyone in the summerwith a ski pass which can be bought in the town.


Kate outside her luxury Chalet PAGE 20 MAIDSTONE & MID KENT ADVERTISER


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