Solo hikes

As the winter started releasing its grip on the valley I've added hiking as an activity. This is likely to be my main form of exercise now that the snow is worsening at altitude and that I've cracked a rib trying to snowboard with F.

My first ones were on very snow covered ground. 

Even in the forest you're never far from a great view

But gradually the snow has been melting and clearing, making walking easier (and skiing worse)

Some of the buildings around Chamonix are lovely

Gradually spring is arriving to the bottom of the valley, even if the upper slopes are still snow covered.

Attractive couple I see on one of my circuits

At this altitude (around 1,300m) the snow is gone and in the sun it's shorts and T-shirt weather.

Chamonix is unbelievably set up for hiking, with trails running along the valley at various altitudes and zig zagging up the sides of the mountains from every village, let alone the ones that begin at the top of the various cable cars once the snow clears in summer. 

While you hike there's also some wildlife to see if you're lucky, on my last walk I startled a couple of deer and this slithery character crossed my path: