Discovering the beauty of the Alps in summer and winter is a must for all visiting us. We are stoked to welcome a guest blog from experienced Mountain Leaders Viv and Jason at DaysAway Adventures.
It is truly summer in the Alps when the cows march through the villages. They are walked from the valley where they’ve been overwintering in warm cosy sheds, back to the high mountain pastures. This traditional Alpine summer journey of the cows and the humans that look after them is called transhumance.
We joined the Ferme du Caly, based in St. Jean d’Aulps, at the end of May and helped to move the cows and steer them in the right direction. It’s a 12km walk and the cows take priority on the roads. They are pretty quick walkers but are visibly excited to be back in the mountains. There’s always a big celebration associated with it too. Traditionally the cows are decorated with flowers and bells, a noisy but fun affair!
The high mountain pastures, also called Alpages, are important in producing beautiful flowers and nutritious grass that the cows feed on. It is these beautiful meadows that help the cows to produce the right milk. This then goes into making the amazing Abondance cheese or Tomme de Savoie that you will have tasted here.
The cows that live in the mountains are chosen for their hardiness and the cheese that is produced is strictly controlled. You can learn more here: https://www.fromageabondance.fr/en/our-cheese
You cannot fail to see the gorgeous and colourful Alpine summer flowers when walking on many of the mountain paths, These are on display throughout the summer months. We are happy to guide you on a walk in the area and to tell you more about the flowers, cows, cheese and the way of life in the high mountains.
About DaysAway Adventures
International Mountain Leaders / Accomagnateurs en moyenne montage, Viven & Jason Day, are based in St. Jean D’Aulps. Mountains and nature are their passion and they want to pass on their love of the outdoors to you. They offer both public and private guiding and are happy to chat about what you would like to achieve on a walk with them.
See more of the summer walks and winter snowshoeing that they offer in and around the Morzine area here:
