The Youngest Winter Survivor …

… of the Dent d’Oche bouquetin herd just over the border from us above Bernex. As I arrived at the Col this morning, there were 42 females and 8 youngsters. (The line up that I saw in extra shows 15 of them relaxing in the morning sunshine despite the cutting north wind). The walk/scramble to the summit of the Dent d’Oche (2221m) has become one of my pilgrimage routes since I found this bouquetin gathering place. The males are elsewhere but the females, who give birth every two years, are fattening up after the winter, at the Col de Planchamp. The youngest one in the main photo, would have been born in July 2024. The Col de Planchamp is just off the main route to the summit so few people go there. It is a privilege to see the group relaxing and they allowed me to approach quite close to them. I didn’t have a fur coat so had to find a spot lower down, out of the wind, to have my picnic! 

 Another big walk today and my eyes are closing already. Day off tomorrow! Catch up time …